| New Living Translation | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Gazing intently at the high council, Paul began: “Brothers, I have always lived before God with a clear conscience!” | 1Paul looked directly at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have conducted myself before God in all good conscience to this day.” |
| 2Instantly Ananias the high priest commanded those close to Paul to slap him on the mouth. | 2At this, the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. |
| 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?” | 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.” |
| 4Those standing near Paul said to him, “Do you dare to insult God’s high priest?” | 4But those standing nearby said, “How dare you insult the high priest of God!” |
| 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.’ ” | 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.’ ” |
| 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!” | 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.” |
| 7This divided the council—the Pharisees against the Sadducees— | 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 there is no resurrection or angels or spirits, but the Pharisees believe in all of these. | 8For the Sadducees say that there is neither a resurrection, nor angels, nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. |
| 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.” | 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?” |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 | 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.” |
| 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. | 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 of them in the conspiracy. | 13More than forty of them were involved in this plot. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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.” | 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 Paul’s nephew—his sister’s son—heard of their plan and went to the fortress 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 for one of the Roman officers and said, “Take this young man to the commander. He has something important 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 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.” | 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 his hand, led him aside, and asked, “What is it you want to tell me?” | 19The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside, and asked, “What do you need to tell me?” |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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.” | 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.” |
| 22“Don’t let anyone know you told me this,” the commander warned the young man. Paul Is Sent to Caesarea | 22So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, “Do not tell anyone that you have reported this to me.” |
| 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. | 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. |
| 24Provide horses for Paul to ride, and get him safely to Governor Felix.” | 24Provide mounts for Paul to take him safely to Governor Felix.” |
| 25Then he wrote this letter to the governor: | 25And he wrote the following letter: |
| 26“From Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings! | 26Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings. |
| 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. | 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, |
| 28Then I took him to their high council to try to learn the basis of the accusations against him. | 28and since I wanted to understand their charges against him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin. |
| 29I soon discovered the charge was something regarding their religious law—certainly nothing worthy of imprisonment or death. | 29I found that the accusation involved questions about their own law, but there was no charge worthy of death or imprisonment. |
| 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.” | 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 that night, as ordered, the soldiers took Paul as far as Antipatris. | 31So the soldiers followed their orders and brought Paul by night to Antipatris. |
| 32They returned to the fortress the next morning, while the mounted troops took him on to Caesarea. | 32The next day they returned to the barracks and let the horsemen go on with him. |
| 33When they arrived in Caesarea, they presented Paul and the letter to Governor Felix. | 33When the horsemen arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and presented Paul to him. |
| 34He read it and then asked Paul what province he was from. “Cilicia,” Paul answered. | 34The governor read the letter and asked what province Paul was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia, |
| 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. | 35he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers arrive.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s Praetorium. |
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