English Standard Version

Christian Standard Bible

1And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.”

1Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, "Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience to this day."

2And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.

2The high priest Ananias ordered those who were standing next to him to strike him on the mouth.

3Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?”

3Then Paul said to him, "God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! You are sitting there judging me according to the law, and yet in violation of the law are you ordering me to be struck?"

4Those who stood by said, “Would you revile God’s high priest?”

4Those standing nearby said, "Do you dare revile God's high priest?"

5And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”

5"I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest," replied Paul. "For it is written, You must not speak evil of a ruler of your people."

6Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”

6When Paul realized that one part of them were Sadducees and the other part were Pharisees, he cried out in the Sanhedrin, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am being judged because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead!"

7And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.

7When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.

8For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

8For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, and neither angel nor spirit, but the Pharisees affirm them all.

9Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ party stood up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?”

9The shouting grew loud, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees' party got up and argued vehemently: "We find nothing evil in this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?"

10And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks.

10When the dispute became violent, the commander feared that Paul might be torn apart by them and ordered the troops to go down, take him away from them, and bring him into the barracks.

11The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”

11The following night, the Lord stood by him and said, "Have courage! For as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so it is necessary for you to testify in Rome."

12When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

12When it was morning, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.

13There were more than forty who made this conspiracy.

13There were more than forty who had formed this plot.

14They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul.

14These men went to the chief priests and elders and said, "We have bound ourselves under a solemn curse that we won't eat anything until we have killed Paul.

15Now therefore you, along with the council, give notice to the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes near.”

15So now you, along with the Sanhedrin, make a request to the commander that he bring him down to you as if you were going to investigate his case more thoroughly. But, before he gets near, we are ready to kill him."

16Now the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, so he went and entered the barracks and told Paul.

16But the son of Paul's sister, hearing about their ambush, came and entered the barracks and reported it to Paul.

17Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him.”

17Paul called one of the centurions and said, "Take this young man to the commander, because he has something to report to him."

18So he took him and brought him to the tribune and said, “Paul the prisoner called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, as he has something to say to you.”

18So he took him, brought him to the commander, and said, "The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, because he has something to tell you."

19The tribune took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?”

19The commander took him by the hand, led him aside, and inquired privately, "What is it you have to report to me?"

20And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more closely about him.

20"The Jews," he said, "have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the Sanhedrin tomorrow, as though they are going to hold a somewhat more careful inquiry about him.

21But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him, who have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him. And now they are ready, waiting for your consent.”

21Don't let them persuade you, because there are more than forty of them lying in ambush--men who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, waiting for your consent."

22So the tribune dismissed the young man, charging him, “Tell no one that you have informed me of these things.”

22So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, "Don't tell anyone that you have informed me about this."

23Then he called two of the centurions and said, “Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night.

23He summoned two of his centurions and said, "Get two hundred soldiers ready with seventy cavalry and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight.

24Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to Felix the governor.”

24Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to Felix the governor."

25And he wrote a letter to this effect:

25He wrote the following letter:

26“Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings.

26Claudius Lysias, To the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.

27This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen.

27When this man had been seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, I arrived with my troops and rescued him because I learned that he is a Roman citizen.

28And desiring to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council.

28Wanting to know the charge they were accusing him of, I brought him down before their Sanhedrin.

29I found that he was being accused about questions of their law, but charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment.

29I found out that the accusations were concerning questions of their law, and that there was no charge that merited death or imprisonment.

30And when it was disclosed to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him.”

30When I was informed that there was a plot against the man, I sent him to you right away. I also ordered his accusers to state their case against him in your presence.

31So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.

31So the soldiers took Paul during the night and brought him to Antipatris as they were ordered.

32And on the next day they returned to the barracks, letting the horsemen go on with him.

32The next day, they returned to the barracks, allowing the cavalry to go on with him.

33When they had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him.

33When these men entered Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.

34On reading the letter, he asked what province he was from. And when he learned that he was from Cilicia,

34After he read it, he asked what province he was from. When he learned he was from Cilicia,

35he said, “I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive.” And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod’s praetorium.

35he said, "I will give you a hearing whenever your accusers also get here." He ordered that he be kept under guard in Herod's palace.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.