Acts 23

Paul stood before the council and set the Pharisees against the Sadducees by declaring his hope in the resurrection of the dead. The Lord stood by Paul that night and told him he must also bear witness at Rome. More than forty Jews conspired to kill Paul, but his nephew uncovered the plot, and the chief captain sent Paul by night under heavy guard to the governor Felix at Caesarea.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.	Paul looked straight at the council and said, "Brothers, I have lived before God with a completely clear conscience to this day."
2	And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.	The high priest Ananias commanded those standing near him to strike him on the mouth.
3	Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?	Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by ordering me to be struck."
4	And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest?	Those standing nearby said, "Are you insulting God's high priest?"
5	Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.	Paul said, "Brothers, I did not know that he was the high priest. It is written, 'You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.'"
6	But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.	When Paul saw that one group were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he called out in the council, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I am on trial for my hope in the resurrection of the dead."
7	And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.	When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.
8	For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.	The Sadducees say there is no resurrection, and no angel or spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge all of these.
9	And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.	There was a great uproar. Some of the scribes who were on the Pharisees' side stood up and argued strongly: "We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?"
10	And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.	When the argument became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn apart by them, he ordered the soldiers to go down, take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks.
11	And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.	The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, "Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome."
12	And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.	When day came, some Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath. They said they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.
13	And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.	There were more than forty of them who made this oath.
14	And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.	They went to the chief priests and elders and said, "We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath to eat nothing until we have killed Paul.
15	Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.	Now then, together with the council, make a request to the commander to bring Paul down to you tomorrow, as if you were going to examine his case more carefully. We are ready to kill him before he gets here."
16	And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.	But the son of Paul's sister heard about this plot. He went into the barracks and told Paul.
17	Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him.	Paul called one of the centurions and said, "Take this young man to the commander. He has something to tell him."
18	So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee.	The centurion took the young man to the commander and said, "The prisoner Paul called me to him and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you."
19	Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that thou hast to tell me?	The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside privately, and asked, "What is it you have to tell me?"
20	And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly.	He said, "The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as if they intend to inquire more carefully into his case.
21	But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee.	Do not agree to it. More than forty of them are lying in ambush for him. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are ready now, waiting for your promise."
22	So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast shewed these things to me.	The commander dismissed the young man with a warning: "Tell no one that you have reported this to me."
23	And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;	He called two of his centurions and said, "Get two hundred soldiers ready to march to Caesarea, along with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen, at nine tonight."
24	And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.	He also told them to provide horses for Paul to ride, so he could be brought safely to Felix the governor.
25	And he wrote a letter after this manner:	He wrote a letter as follows:
26	Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.	"Claudius Lysias, to His Excellency the governor Felix: Greetings.
27	This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.	This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them. I came with my troops and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen.
28	And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:	Wanting to know what charge they were bringing against him, I brought him before their council.
29	Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.	I found that he was accused about questions of their law, but no charge against him deserved death or imprisonment.
30	And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Fare thee well.	When I was informed that there was a plot against this man, I sent him to you at once. I have also told his accusers to present their case before you. Farewell."
31	Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.	The soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul that night and brought him to Antipatris.
32	On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:	The next day they let the horsemen continue on with him, and they returned to the barracks.
33	Who, when they came to Caesarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.	When the horsemen arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and presented Paul to him.
34	And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia;	When the governor had read the letter, he asked what province Paul was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,
35	I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall.	he said, "I will hear your case when your accusers arrive." He ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod's palace.