New American Standard Bible 1995

Berean Study Bible

1Paul, looking intently at the Council, said, "Brethren, I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day."

1Paul looked directly at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have conducted myself before God in all good conscience to this day.”

2The high priest Ananias commanded those standing beside him to strike him on the mouth.

2At this, the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.

3Then Paul said to him, "God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law order me to be struck?"

3Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit here to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck.”

4But the bystanders said, "Do you revile God's high priest?"

4But those standing nearby said, “How dare you insult the high priest of God!”

5And Paul said, "I was not aware, brethren, that he was high priest; for it is written, 'YOU SHALL NOT SPEAK EVIL OF A RULER OF YOUR PEOPLE.'"

5“Brothers,” Paul replied, “I was not aware that he was the high priest, for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’ ”

6But perceiving that one group were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, Paul began crying out in the Council, "Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!"

6Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. It is because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”

7As he said this, there occurred a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.

7As soon as he had said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.

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

8For the Sadducees say that there is neither a resurrection, nor angels, nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

9And there occurred a great uproar; and some of the scribes of the Pharisaic party stood up and began to argue heatedly, saying, "We find nothing wrong with this man; suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?"

9A great clamor arose, and some scribes from the party of the Pharisees got up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”

10And as a great dissension was developing, the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them and ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force, and bring him into the barracks.

10The dispute grew so violent that the commander was afraid they would tear Paul to pieces. He ordered the soldiers to go down and remove him by force and bring him into the barracks.

11But on the night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, "Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also."

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

12When it was day, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.

12When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.

13There were more than forty who formed this plot.

13More than forty of them were involved in this plot.

14They came to the chief priests and the elders and said, "We have bound ourselves under a solemn oath to taste nothing until we have killed Paul.

14They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.

15"Now therefore, you and the Council notify the commander to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case by a more thorough investigation; and we for our part are ready to slay him before he comes near the place."

15Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him down to you on the pretext of examining his case more carefully. We are ready to kill him on the way.”

16But the son of Paul's sister heard of their ambush, and he came and entered the barracks and told Paul.

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

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

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

18So he took him and led him to the commander and said, "Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to lead this young man to you since he has something to tell you."

18So the centurion took him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner sent and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.”

19The commander took him by the hand and stepping aside, began to inquire of him privately, "What is it that you have to report to me?"

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

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

20He answered, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul to the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of acquiring more information about him.

21"So do not listen to them, for more than forty of them are lying in wait for him who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they slay him; and now they are ready and waiting for the promise from you."

21Do not let them persuade you, because more than forty men are waiting to ambush him. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him; they are ready now, awaiting your consent.”

22So the commander let the young man go, instructing him, "Tell no one that you have notified me of these things."

22So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, “Do not tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”

23And he called to him two of the centurions and said, "Get two hundred soldiers ready by the third hour of the night to proceed to Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen."

23Then he called two of his centurions and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea in the third hour of the night.

24They were also to provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to Felix the governor.

24Provide mounts for Paul to take him safely to Governor Felix.”

25And he wrote a letter having this form:

25And he wrote the following letter:

26"Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix, greetings.

26Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings.

27"When this man was arrested by the Jews and was about to be slain by them, I came up to them with the troops and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.

27This man was seized by the Jews, and they were about to kill him when I came with my troops to rescue him. For I had learned that he is a Roman citizen,

28"And wanting to ascertain the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their Council;

28and since I wanted to understand their charges against him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin.

29and I found him to be accused over questions about their Law, but under no accusation deserving death or imprisonment.

29I found that the accusation involved questions about their own law, but there was no charge worthy of death or imprisonment.

30"When I was informed that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, also instructing his accusers to bring charges against him before you."

30When I was informed that there was a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also instructed his accusers to present their case against him before you.

31So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.

31So the soldiers followed their orders and brought Paul by night to Antipatris.

32But the next day, leaving the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to the barracks.

32The next day they returned to the barracks and let the horsemen go on with him.

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

33When the horsemen arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and presented Paul to him.

34When he had read it, he asked from what province he was, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia,

34The governor read the letter and asked what province Paul was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,

35he said, "I will give you a hearing after your accusers arrive also," giving orders for him to be kept in Herod's Praetorium.

35he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers arrive.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s Praetorium.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org

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