Acts 23

And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.

1Paul looked right at the council, the leaders who judged people. He said, "Brothers, I have always tried to live right before God."

2And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.

2Ananias was the high priest, the top leader at the temple. He told the men near Paul to hit him on the mouth.

3Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?

3Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me by the law. But you break the law by ordering them to hit me."

NoteA "whitewashed wall" is a wall painted white to look clean and nice. Paul is saying the high priest looks good on the outside but is not acting right.

4And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God’s high priest?

4The men standing nearby said, "How dare you insult God's high priest!"

5Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.

5Paul said, "Brothers, I did not know he was the high priest. The Scriptures say, 'Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.'"

6But when Paul perceived that the 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: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

6Paul saw that some there were Sadducees and some were Pharisees. These were two groups of leaders who did not agree with each other. He called out, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, and my father was one too. I am on trial because I hope God will bring dead people back to life."

7And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.

7As soon as he said this, the Pharisees and Sadducees began to argue. The whole group split apart.

8For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.

8The Sadducees say that dead people do not come back to life. They also say there are no angels and no spirits. The Pharisees believe in all of these.

9And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees’ part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.

9Everyone began shouting. Some teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued hard. They said, "We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel really did speak to him?"

10And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.

10The arguing got so bad that the commander grew afraid. He thought they might tear Paul to pieces. He told his soldiers to go down and pull Paul away from them. They brought Paul into the soldiers' fort.

NoteThe "castle" was the Roman soldiers' fort in Jerusalem, right next to the temple. It was where the soldiers lived, not a king's castle.

11And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

11The next night the Lord stood beside Paul. He said, "Be brave, Paul. You told people about me in Jerusalem. You must tell people about me in Rome too."

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

12When morning came, some of the Jewish men made a secret plan. They promised not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.

13And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.

13More than forty men were part of this plan.

14And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.

14They went to the chief priests and the elders, the older leaders. They said, "We made a strong promise to eat nothing until we kill Paul."

15Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.

15"So you and the council should ask the commander to bring Paul to you tomorrow. Say you want to ask him more questions. We will be ready to kill him on the way."

16And when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.

16But Paul's nephew, his sister's son, heard about the plan. He went into the fort and told Paul.

17Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him.

17Paul called over one of the officers who led a hundred soldiers. He said, "Take this young man to the commander. He has something to tell him."

18So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee.

18So the officer took him to the commander. He said, "Paul the prisoner asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you."

19Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that thou hast to tell me?

19The commander took the young man by the hand. He led him off to one side, away from the others. He asked, "What do you want to tell me?"

20And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly.

20The young man said, "The Jewish leaders have agreed to ask you a favor. They want you to bring Paul to the council tomorrow. They will say they want to ask him more questions. But that is only an excuse."

21But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee.

21"Please do not do what they ask. More than forty men are hiding, waiting to attack him. They promised not to eat or drink until they kill him. They are ready right now. They are only waiting for you to say yes."

22So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast shewed these things to me.

22So the commander sent the young man away. He told him, "Do not tell anyone that you told me this."

23And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;

23Then he called two officers. He said, "Get two hundred soldiers ready to go to Caesarea. Bring seventy men on horses and two hundred men with spears. Leave at nine o'clock tonight."

NoteThe KJV says "the third hour of the night." People then counted the hours of the night starting at sunset, so this means about nine o'clock at night.

24And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.

24"Bring animals for Paul to ride as well. Take him safely to Felix, the governor who ruled that area."

25And he wrote a letter after this manner:

25Then the commander wrote a letter. This is what it said:

26Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.

26"From Claudius Lysias. To Felix, the honored governor. Greetings."

27This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.

27"Some Jewish men grabbed this man. They were about to kill him. I came with my soldiers and saved him. I had learned that he is a Roman citizen."

28And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:

28"I wanted to know why they said he was guilty. So I brought him down to their council."

29Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.

29"I found that their complaints were about their own law. He had done nothing that deserved death or prison."

30And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell.

30"Then someone told me about a plan to kill him. So I sent him to you right away. I also told the men who blame him to tell you their side. Goodbye."

31Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.

31The soldiers did what they were told. They took Paul at night to a town called Antipatris.

32On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:

32The next day the soldiers on foot went back to the fort. The men on horses went on with Paul.

33Who, when they came to Caesarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.

33The horsemen came to Caesarea. They gave the letter to the governor. They brought Paul to him too.

34And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia;

34The governor read the letter. He asked what part of the world Paul came from. He learned that Paul came from Cilicia.

35I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s judgment hall.

35He said, "I will listen to your case when the men who blame you get here." Then he ordered that Paul be guarded in Herod's palace.