New Living Translation

New American Standard Bible 1995

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

1Paul, looking intently at the Council, said, "Brethren, I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day."

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

2The high priest Ananias commanded those standing beside 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! Do you sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law order me to be struck?"

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

4But the bystanders said, "Do 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 was not aware, brethren, that he was 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!”

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!"

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

7As he said this, there occurred a dissension 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 no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a 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.”

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?"

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 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.

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

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 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 formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.

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

13There were more than forty who formed 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 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.

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.”

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

16But the son of Paul's sister heard of their ambush, and he came 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 to him and said, "Lead this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to 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 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 his hand, led 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?"

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 tomorrow to the Council, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more thoroughly 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.”

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."

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

22So the commander let the young man go, instructing him, "Tell no one that you have notified 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.

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 to ride, and get him safely to Governor Felix.”

24They were also to provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to Felix the governor.

25Then he wrote this letter to the governor:

25And he wrote a letter having this form:

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

26"Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent 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.

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.

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

28"And wanting to ascertain 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.

29and I found him to be accused over questions about their Law, but under no accusation 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.”

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

31So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders, 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.

32But the next day, leaving the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to the barracks.

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

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

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

34When he had read it, he asked from what province he was, 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 after your accusers arrive also," giving orders for him to be kept 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.

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