New Living Translation

English Standard Version

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

1And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.”

2Instantly Ananias the high priest commanded those close to Paul to slap him on the mouth.

2And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him 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 is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?”

4Those standing near Paul said to him, “Do you dare to insult God’s high priest?”

4Those who stood by said, “Would you revile God’s high priest?”

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.’ ”

5And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a 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!”

6Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”

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

7And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the 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 no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, 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.”

9Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ party stood up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke 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.

10And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them 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 by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also 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 it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

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

13There were more than forty who made this conspiracy.

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 strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till 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 therefore you, along with the council, give notice to the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes near.”

16But Paul’s nephew—his sister’s son—heard of their plan and went to the fortress and told Paul.

16Now the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, so he went and entered 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.”

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

19The commander took his hand, led him aside, and asked, “What is it you want to tell me?”

19The tribune took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, “What is it that you have 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.

20And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more closely 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.”

21But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him, who have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him. And now they are ready, waiting for 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 tribune dismissed the young man, charging him, “Tell no one that you have informed me of these things.”

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 the centurions and said, “Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night.

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

24Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to Felix the governor.”

25Then he wrote this letter to the governor:

25And he wrote a letter to this effect:

26“From Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings!

26“Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency the 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 was about to be killed by them when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen.

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

28And desiring to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council.

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

29I found that he was being accused about questions of their law, but charged with nothing deserving 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.”

30And when it was disclosed to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him.”

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

31So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.

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

32And on the next day they returned to the barracks, letting the horsemen go on with him.

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

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

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

34On reading the letter, he asked what province he was from. And when he learned 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 give you a hearing when your accusers arrive.” And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod’s praetorium.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.