Acts 23

Paul Before the Council

1Paul looked directly at the council and said, “Brothers, I have lived before God with a completely clear conscience to this day.” 2The high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. 3Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there judging me according to the Law, yet in violation of the Law you order me to be struck?” 4Those standing nearby said, “Do you insult God’s high priest?” 5Paul replied, “Brothers, I did not know he was the high priest. For it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil about a ruler of your people.’” 6When Paul realized that one part of the council was Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he called out, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am on trial because of the hope and resurrection of the dead.” 7When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, angel, or spirit, while the Pharisees affirm them. 9A great shouting match arose. Some scribes from the Pharisee party stood up and argued strongly, “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” 10The dispute became so violent that the commander feared Paul would be torn apart by them. He ordered the soldiers to go down, take Paul by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks. 11The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage. Just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

A Plot to Kill Paul

12When morning came, some Jewish men formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with a curse, promising not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. 13More than forty men joined this conspiracy. 14They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves under a solemn curse not to taste anything until we have killed Paul. 15Therefore you and the council should inform the commander that you want him brought down to you, as though you intend to investigate his case more carefully. We are ready to kill him before he arrives.”

Paul’s Nephew Reports the Ambush

16But Paul’s sister’s son heard about the ambush. He went into the barracks and told Paul. 17Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander because he has something to report.” 18So the centurion took him to the commander and said, “The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.” 19The commander took him by the hand, stepped aside with him privately, and asked, “What do you have to report to me?” 20He said, “The Jewish leaders have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, pretending they want to inquire more carefully about him. 21Do not be persuaded by them. More than forty men are lying in ambush for him. They have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they kill him, and they are ready now, waiting for your agreement.” 22The commander dismissed the young man and ordered him, “Tell no one that you have reported these things to me.”

Paul Is Sent to Felix

23The commander called two centurions and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night. 24Provide mounts for Paul so that he can be brought safely to Governor Felix.” 25He wrote a letter in this form: 26“Claudius Lysias,
To His Excellency Governor Felix:
Greetings. 27This man was seized by some Jewish people and was about to be killed by them when I came with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen. 28Wanting to know the reason they were accusing him, I brought him down before their council. 29I found that he was being accused about questions of their Law but had no charge deserving death or imprisonment. 30When I was informed that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you immediately and ordered his accusers to present their charges against him before you.” 31So the soldiers followed their orders, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32The next day they returned to the barracks, leaving the horsemen to continue with him. 33When the horsemen entered Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and presented Paul to him. 34After reading it, Felix asked what province Paul was from. When he learned he was from Cilicia, 35he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers arrive.” Then he ordered Paul to be kept under guard in Herod’s headquarters.