| New International Version | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, "My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day." | 1Paul, looking intently at the Council, said, "Brethren, I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day." |
| 2At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. | 2The high priest Ananias commanded those standing beside him to strike him on the mouth. |
| 3Then 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 commanding that I be struck!" | 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?" |
| 4Those who were standing near Paul said, "How dare you insult God's high priest!" | 4But the bystanders said, "Do you revile God's high priest?" |
| 5Paul 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.'" | 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.'" |
| 6Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, "My brothers, I am a Pharisee, descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead." | 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!" |
| 7When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. | 7As he said this, there occurred a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. |
| 8(The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things.) | 8For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. |
| 9There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. "We find nothing wrong with this man," they said. "What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?" | 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?" |
| 10The 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. | 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. |
| 11The 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." | 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." |
| 12The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. | 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. |
| 13More than forty men were involved in this plot. | 13There were more than forty who formed this plot. |
| 14They 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. | 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. |
| 15Now then, you and the Sanhedrin 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." | 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." |
| 16But when the son of Paul's sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul. | 16But the son of Paul's sister heard of their ambush, and he came and entered the barracks and told Paul. |
| 17Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, "Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him." | 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." |
| 18So he took him to the commander. The centurion said, "Paul, the prisoner, sent for me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you." | 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." |
| 19The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked, "What is it you want to tell me?" | 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?" |
| 20He said: "Some Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him. | 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. |
| 21Don't give in to them, because more than forty of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are ready now, waiting for your consent to their request." | 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." |
| 22The commander dismissed the young man with this warning: "Don't tell anyone that you have reported this to me." | 22So the commander let the young man go, instructing him, "Tell no one that you have notified me of these things." |
| 23Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, "Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight. | 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." |
| 24Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix." | 24They were also to provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to Felix the governor. |
| 25He wrote a letter as follows: | 25And he wrote a letter having this form: |
| 26Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings. | 26"Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix, greetings. |
| 27This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him, but I came with my troops and rescued him, for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen. | 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. |
| 28I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin. | 28"And wanting to ascertain the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their Council; |
| 29I found that the accusation had to do with questions about their law, but there was no charge against him that deserved death or imprisonment. | 29and I found him to be accused over questions about their Law, but under no accusation deserving death or imprisonment. |
| 30When I was informed of a plot to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers to present to you their case against him. | 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." |
| 31So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul with them during the night and brought him as far as Antipatris. | 31So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. |
| 32The next day they let the cavalry go on with him, while they returned to the barracks. | 32But the next day, leaving the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to the barracks. |
| 33When the cavalry arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him. | 33When these had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. |
| 34The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia, | 34When he had read it, he asked from what province he was, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia, |
| 35he said, "I will hear your case when your accusers get here." Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod's palace. | 35he said, "I will give you a hearing after your accusers arrive also," giving orders for him to be kept in Herod's Praetorium. |
| 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. | 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 |
|
