Book of Acts Chapter 23
44_ACT_23_01 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men [and] brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
44_ACT_23_02 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.
44_ACT_23_03 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?
44_ACT_23_04 And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest?
44_ACT_23_05 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.
44_ACT_23_06 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.
44_ACT_23_07 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.
44_ACT_23_08 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.
44_ACT_23_09 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.
44_ACT_23_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.
44_ACT_23_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.
44_ACT_23_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.
44_ACT_23_13 And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.
44_ACT_23_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.
44_ACT_23_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 inquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.
44_ACT_23_16 And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.
44_ACT_23_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.
44_ACT_23_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.
44_ACT_23_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?
44_ACT_23_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 inquire somewhat of him more perfectly.
44_ACT_23_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.
44_ACT_23_22 So the chief captain [then] let the young man depart, and charged [him, See thou] tell no man that thou hast showed these things to me.
44_ACT_23_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;
44_ACT_23_24 And provide [them] beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring [him] safe unto Felix the governor.
44_ACT_23_25 And he wrote a letter after this manner:
44_ACT_23_26 Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix [sendeth] greeting.
44_ACT_23_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.
44_ACT_23_28 And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:
44_ACT_23_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.
44_ACT_23_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. Farewell.
44_ACT_23_31 Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought [him] by night to Antipatris.
44_ACT_23_32 On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:
44_ACT_23_33 Who, when they came to Caesarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.
44_ACT_23_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;
44_ACT_23_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.