King James Version

1 And Paul, looking intently at the council, said: "Men, brothers, I have lived with a good conscience before God until this day." 2 But the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, "God is about to strike you, you whitewashed wall; and do you sit there judging me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law command me to be struck?" 4 Those who stood by said, "Do you revile the high priest of God?" 5 Paul said, "I did not know, brothers, that he is the high priest; for it is written, 'You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.'" 6 But Paul, knowing that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, cried out in the council, "Men, brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged." 7 While he was saying this, a division arose among the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the crowd was split. 8 The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge both. 9 And there was a great cry, and some of the scribes of the party of the Pharisees stood up arguing, saying: We find nothing bad in this man; but if a spirit spoke to him or an angel— 10 But when a great disturbance arose, the chief captain, fearing that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the troops to go down and take him away from among them and to bring him to the barracks. 11 But on the coming night, the Lord stood by him and said, "Take courage, for as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome." 12 When day came, the Jews made a conspiracy and bound themselves by an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. 13 There were more than forty who had made this conspiracy. 14 Those who approached the chief priests and the elders said: "We have bound ourselves with a curse to taste nothing until we kill Paul." 15 Now therefore you show him to the commander with the council in order that he may bring him to you as those who are about to understand more accurately the things concerning him; but we are ready before he approaches to kill him. 16 And when the son of Paul's sister heard of the ambush, he came and entered the camp and reported it to Paul. 17 And Paul called one of the centurions and said, "Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him." 18 And so the one who had seized him led him to the chiliarch and said, "The prisoner Paul called for me and asked to bring this young man to you, having something to say to you." 19 Taking hold of his hand, the commander went aside and asked him privately, "What is it that you have to tell me?" 20 And he said that the Jews had agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as they were going to inquire more accurately about him. 21 So do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty men are lying in wait for him, who have bound themselves by an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him, and now they are ready, waiting for your promise from you. 22 The chief officer therefore released the young man, charging him to tell no one that you had disclosed these things to me. 23 And having called two of the centurions, he said, "Make ready two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, and seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen, from the third hour of the night." 24 to provide beasts so that having boarded Paul they might bring him safely to Felix the governor, 25 Having written a letter containing this form; 26 Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix, greetings. 27 This man having been arrested by the Jews and about to be killed by them, I stepped forward with the troops, having learned that he is a Roman. 28 Wishing to know the reason for which they had accused him, they brought him to their council. 29 I found him being accused concerning questions of their law, having nothing worthy of death or of bonds. 30 But when I was informed of a plot against the man, I immediately sent to you, instructing also the accusers to speak against him on your behalf. 31 The soldiers, therefore, having taken Paul according to the order given to them, conducted him by night to Antipatris. 32 But on the following day, having allowed the horsemen to depart with him, they returned to the encampment. 33 Those who entered into Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor presented Paul to him. 34 And having read, and having asked from what province he is, and having learned that he is from Cilicia, 35 "I will listen to you," he said, "when your accusers come; commanding that he be kept in the praetorium of Herod."