Acts 23 NKJV NIV Parallel

◄ Acts 23 ►

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New International Version

1Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.”

1Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, "My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to 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.

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

3Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?”

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!"

4And those who stood by said, “Do you revile God’s high priest?”

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

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

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.'"

6But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!”

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."

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 Sadducees say that there is no resurrection—and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.

8(The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things.)

9Then there arose a loud outcry. And the scribes of the Pharisees’ party arose and protested, saying, “We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God.”

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?"

10Now when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks.

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.

11But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.”

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."

12And when it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed 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.

13Now there were more than forty who had formed this conspiracy.

13More than forty men were involved in this plot.

14They came to the chief priests and elders, and said, “We have bound ourselves under a great oath that we will eat nothing until we have killed Paul.

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.

15Now you, therefore, together with the council, suggest to the commander that he be brought down to you tomorrow, as though you were going to make further inquiries concerning him; but we are ready to kill him before he comes near.”

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."

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

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

17Then Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to tell 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 brought him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to say to you.”

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."

19Then the commander took him by the hand, went aside, and asked privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?”

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

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

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.

21But do not yield to them, for more than forty of them lie in wait for him, men who have bound themselves by an oath that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him; and now they are ready, waiting for the promise from you.”

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."

22So the commander let the young man depart, and commanded him, “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.”

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

23And he called for two centurions, saying, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night;

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.

24and provide mounts to set Paul on, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.”

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

25He wrote a letter in the following manner:

25He wrote a letter as follows:

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

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

27This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them. Coming with the troops I rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.

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.

28And when I wanted to know the reason they accused him, I brought him before their council.

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

29I found out that he was accused concerning questions of their law, but had nothing charged against him deserving of death or chains.

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.

30And when it was told me that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him immediately to you, and also commanded his accusers to state before you the charges against him. Farewell.

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.

31Then the soldiers, as they were commanded, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.

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

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

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

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

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

34And when the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. And when he understood that he was from Cilicia,

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

35he said, “I will hear you when your accusers also have come.” And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s Praetorium.

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.

New International Version (NIV)

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