Acts 23 NIV NLT Parallel

◄ Acts 23 ►

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1Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, "My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day."

1Gazing intently at the high council, Paul began: “Brothers, I have always lived before God with a clear conscience!”

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

2Instantly Ananias the high priest commanded those close to Paul to slap 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!"

3But Paul said to him, “God will slap you, you corrupt hypocrite! What kind of judge are you to break the law yourself by ordering me struck like that?”

4Those who were standing near Paul said, "How dare you insult God's high priest!"

4Those standing near Paul said to him, “Do you dare to insult 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.'"

5“I’m sorry, brothers. I didn’t realize he was the high priest,” Paul replied, “for the Scriptures say, ‘You must not speak evil of any of your rulers.’ ”

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."

6Paul realized that some members of the high council were Sadducees and some were Pharisees, so he shouted, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, as were my ancestors! And I am on trial because my hope is in the resurrection of the dead!”

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

7This divided the council—the Pharisees against the Sadducees—

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 there is no resurrection or angels or spirits, but the Pharisees believe in all of these.

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?"

9So there was a great uproar. Some of the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees jumped up and began to argue forcefully. “We see nothing wrong with him,” they shouted. “Perhaps a spirit or an angel spoke 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.

10As the conflict grew more violent, the commander was afraid they would tear Paul apart. So he ordered his soldiers to go and rescue him by force and take him back to the fortress.

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."

11That night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, “Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have been a witness to me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome as well.” The Plan to Kill Paul

12The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.

12The next morning a group of Jews got together and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.

13More than forty men were involved in this plot.

13There were more than forty of them in the conspiracy.

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 went to the leading priests and elders and told them, “We have bound ourselves with an oath to eat 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."

15So you and the high council should ask the commander to bring Paul back to the council again. Pretend you want to examine his case more fully. We will kill him on the way.”

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

16But Paul’s nephew—his sister’s son—heard of their plan and went to the fortress 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 for one of the Roman officers and said, “Take this young man to the commander. He has something important to tell 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 the officer did, explaining, “Paul, the prisoner, called me over and asked me to bring this young man to you because 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 his hand, led him aside, and asked, “What is it you want to tell 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.

20Paul’s nephew told him, “Some Jews are going to ask you to bring Paul before the high council tomorrow, pretending they want to get some more information.

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."

21But don’t do it! There are more than forty men hiding along the way ready to ambush him. They have vowed not to eat or drink anything until they have killed him. They are ready now, just waiting for your consent.”

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

22“Don’t let anyone know you told me this,” the commander warned the young man. Paul Is Sent to Caesarea

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.

23Then the commander called two of his officers and ordered, “Get 200 soldiers ready to leave for Caesarea at nine o’clock tonight. Also take 200 spearmen and 70 mounted troops.

24Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix."

24Provide horses for Paul to ride, and get him safely to Governor Felix.”

25He wrote a letter as follows:

25Then he wrote this letter to the governor:

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

26“From Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency, 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“This man was seized by some Jews, and they were about to kill him when I arrived with the troops. When I learned that he was a Roman citizen, I removed him to safety.

28I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin.

28Then I took him to their high council to try to learn the basis of the accusations against him.

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.

29I soon discovered the charge was something regarding their religious law—certainly nothing worthy of imprisonment or death.

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.

30But when I was informed of a plot to kill him, I immediately sent him on to you. I have told his accusers to bring their charges before you.”

31So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul with them during the night and brought him as far as Antipatris.

31So that night, as ordered, the soldiers took Paul as far as Antipatris.

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

32They returned to the fortress the next morning, while the mounted troops took him on to Caesarea.

33When the cavalry arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him.

33When they arrived in Caesarea, they presented Paul and the letter to Governor Felix.

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

34He read it and then asked Paul what province he was from. “Cilicia,” Paul answered.

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.

35“I will hear your case myself when your accusers arrive,” the governor told him. Then the governor ordered him kept in the prison at Herod’s headquarters.

New International Version (NIV)

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