Passage Resources Hebrew/Greek Your Content
Previous Next
Add parallel Print Page Options Listen to Acts 23
Close LEB

Acts 23
Lexham English Bible

Paul Before the Sanhedrin

23 And looking intently at the Sanhedrin, Paul said, “Men and brothers, I have lived my life in all good conscience before God to this day.” 2 So the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near him to strike his mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! And are you sitting there judging me according to the law, and acting contrary to the law do you order me to be struck?” 4 And those who stood nearby said, “Are you reviling the high priest of God?” 5 And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was high priest. For it is written, ‘You must not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”[a]

6 Now when[b] Paul realized that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he shouted out in the Sanhedrin, “Men and brothers! I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees! I am being judged concerning the hope and the resurrection of the dead!” 7 And when[c] he said this, a dispute developed between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 (For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection or angel or spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.) 9 And there was loud shouting, and some of the scribes from the party of the Pharisees stood up and[d] contended sharply, saying, “We find nothing wrong with this man! But what if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” 10 And when[e] the dispute became severe, the military tribune, fearing lest Paul be torn apart by them, ordered the detachment to go down, take him away from their midst, and bring him[f] into the barracks.[g] 11 And the next night the Lord stood by him and[h] said, “Have courage, for as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

A Conspiracy to Kill Paul

12 And when it[i] was day, the Jews made a conspiracy and[j] bound themselves under a curse, saying they would[k] neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. 13 Now there were more than forty who had made this conspiracy, 14 who went to the chief priests and the elders and[l] said, “We have bound ourselves under a curse to partake of nothing until we have killed Paul. 15 Therefore, now you along with the Sanhedrin explain to the military tribune that he should bring him down to you, as if you were going to determine more accurately the things concerning him. And we are ready to do away with him before he comes near.”

16 But when[m] the son of Paul’s sister heard about the ambush, he came and entered into the barracks[n] and[o] reported it[p] to Paul. 17 So Paul called one of the centurions and[q] said, “Bring this young man to the military tribune, because he has something to report to him.” 18 So he took him and[r] brought him[s] to the military tribune and said, “The prisoner Paul called me and[t] asked me[u] to bring this young man to you because he[v] has something to tell you.” 19 And the military tribune, taking hold of his hand and withdrawing privately, asked, “What is it that you have to report to me?” 20 And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you that you bring Paul down to the Sanhedrin tomorrow, as if they were going to inquire somewhat more accurately concerning him. 21 You therefore do not be persuaded by them, because more than forty men of their number[w] are lying in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse neither to eat nor to drink until they have done away with him. And now they are ready, waiting for you to agree.”[x] 22 So the military tribune sent the young man away, directing him,[y] “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.”

23 And he summoned two of the centurions and[z] said, “Make ready from the third hour of the night two hundred soldiers and seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen,[aa] in order that they may proceed as far as Caesarea. 24 And provide mounts so that they can put Paul on them and[ab] bring him[ac] safely to Felix the governor.” 25 He wrote[ad] a letter that had this form:[ae]

26 Claudius Lysias.

To his excellency Governor Felix.

Greetings!

27 This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them when I[af] came upon them[ag] with the detachment and[ah] rescued him,[ai] because I[aj] learned that he was a Roman citizen. 28 And because I[ak] wanted to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him[al] down to their Sanhedrin.[am] 29 I found he[an] was accused concerning controversial questions of their law, but having no charge deserving death or imprisonment. 30 And when it[ao] was made known to me there would be a plot against the man, I sent him[ap] to you immediately, also ordering his[aq] accusers to speak against him[ar] before you.

31 Therefore the soldiers, in accordance with their orders,[as] took Paul and[at] brought him[au] to Antipatris during the night. 32 And on the next day they let the horsemen go on with him, and[av] they returned to the barracks.[aw] 33 The horsemen,[ax] when they[ay] came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, also presented Paul to him. 34 So after[az] reading the letter[ba] and asking what province he was from, and learning that he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, “I will give you a hearing whenever your accusers arrive also,” giving orders for him to be guarded in the praetorium[bb] of Herod.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 23:5 A quotation from Exod 22:28
  2. Acts 23:6 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“realized”) which is understood as temporal
  3. Acts 23:7 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“said”)
  4. Acts 23:9 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“stood up”) has been translated as a finite verb
  5. Acts 23:10 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“became”)
  6. Acts 23:10 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  7. Acts 23:10 Or “headquarters”
  8. Acts 23:11 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“stood by”) has been translated as a finite verb
  9. Acts 23:12 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“was”)
  10. Acts 23:12 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“made”) has been translated as a finite verb
  11. Acts 23:12 Literally “saying neither to eat nor to drink”; the words “they would” are supplied for smoother English style
  12. Acts 23:14 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“went to”) has been translated as a finite verb
  13. Acts 23:16 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard about”) which is understood as temporal
  14. Acts 23:16 Or “headquarters”
  15. Acts 23:16 Here “and” is supplied because the two previous participles (“came” and “entered”) have been translated as finite verbs
  16. Acts 23:16 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  17. Acts 23:17 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“called”) has been translated as a finite verb
  18. Acts 23:18 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“took”) has been translated as a finite verb
  19. Acts 23:18 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  20. Acts 23:18 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“called”) has been translated as a finite verb
  21. Acts 23:18 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  22. Acts 23:18 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“has”) which is understood as causal
  23. Acts 23:21 Literally “them”
  24. Acts 23:21 Literally “the assurance of agreement from you”
  25. Acts 23:22 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  26. Acts 23:23 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“summoned”) has been translated as a finite verb
  27. Acts 23:23 A word of uncertain meaning, probably a military technical term
  28. Acts 23:24 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“put … on”) has been translated as a finite verb
  29. Acts 23:24 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  30. Acts 23:25 Literally “writing”
  31. Acts 23:25 Or “content”
  32. Acts 23:27 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“came upon”) which is understood as temporal
  33. Acts 23:27 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  34. Acts 23:27 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“came upon”) has been translated as a finite verb
  35. Acts 23:27 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  36. Acts 23:27 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“learned”) which is understood as causal
  37. Acts 23:28 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“wanted”) which is understood as causal
  38. Acts 23:28 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  39. Acts 23:28 Or “council”
  40. Acts 23:29 Literally “whom”
  41. Acts 23:30 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“was made known”) which is understood as temporal
  42. Acts 23:30 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  43. Acts 23:30 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  44. Acts 23:30 Some manuscripts have “to state the charges against him” (literally, “to speak the things against him”)
  45. Acts 23:31 Literally “what was ordered to them”
  46. Acts 23:31 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“took”) has been translated as a finite verb
  47. Acts 23:31 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  48. Acts 23:32 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“let”) has been translated as a finite verb
  49. Acts 23:32 Or “headquarters”
  50. Acts 23:33 Literally “who”
  51. Acts 23:33 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“came”) which is understood as temporal
  52. Acts 23:34 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“reading”) which is understood as temporal
  53. Acts 23:34 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  54. Acts 23:35 The “praetorium” of Herod refers to the palace of Herod the Great in Caesarea Maritima
Listen to Acts 23
Close NIV

Acts 23
New International Version

23 Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin(A) and said, “My brothers,(B) I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience(C) to this day.” 2 At this the high priest Ananias(D) ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.(E) 3 Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall!(F) You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!”(G)

4 Those who were standing near Paul said, “How dare you insult God’s high priest!”

5 Paul replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’[a]”(H)

6 Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees(I) and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers,(J) I am a Pharisee,(K) descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.”(L) 7 When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection,(M) and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things.)

9 There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees(N) stood up and argued vigorously. “We find nothing wrong with this man,”(O) they said. “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”(P) 10 The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.(Q)

11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage!(R) As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”(S)

The Plot to Kill Paul

12 The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy(T) and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.(U) 13 More than forty men were involved in this plot. 14 They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.(V) 15 Now then, you and the Sanhedrin(W) petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.”

16 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks(X) and told Paul.

17 Then 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 to the commander.

The centurion said, “Paul, the prisoner,(Y) sent for me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.”

19 The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked, “What is it you want to tell me?”

20 He said: “Some Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin(Z) tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him.(AA) 21 Don’t give in to them, because more than forty(AB) of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him.(AC) They are ready now, waiting for your consent to their request.”

22 The commander dismissed the young man with this warning: “Don’t tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”

Paul Transferred to Caesarea

23 Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen[b] to go to Caesarea(AD) at nine tonight.(AE) 24 Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”(AF)

25 He wrote a letter as follows:

26 Claudius Lysias,

To His Excellency,(AG) Governor Felix:

Greetings.(AH)

27 This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him,(AI) but I came with my troops and rescued him,(AJ) for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen.(AK) 28 I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin.(AL) 29 I found that the accusation had to do with questions about their law,(AM) but there was no charge against him(AN) that deserved death or imprisonment. 30 When I was informed(AO) of a plot(AP) to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers(AQ) to present to you their case against him.

31 So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul with them during the night and brought him as far as Antipatris. 32 The next day they let the cavalry(AR) go on with him, while they returned to the barracks.(AS) 33 When the cavalry(AT) arrived in Caesarea,(AU) they delivered the letter to the governor(AV) and handed Paul over to him. 34 The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,(AW) 35 he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers(AX) get here.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard(AY) in Herod’s palace.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 23:5 Exodus 22:28
  2. Acts 23:23 The meaning of the Greek for this word is uncertain.
Next
Acts 22
Acts 24
Next
dropdown
Lexham English Bible (LEB)

2012 by Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software

New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.

July Summer Surge

More on the NIV