23:1And Paul, looking intently at the council, said: "Men, brothers, I have conducted myself with all good conscience before God until this present day." 23:2And the chief of the priests, Ananias, commanded those standing by him to strike his mouth. 23:3Then Paul said to him: "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall. 23:3And do you sit judging me according to the law, and contrary to the law order me to be struck?" 23:4And those who were standing by said: "Do you revile the high priest of God?" 23:5And Paul said: "I did not know, brothers, that he is chief of the priests. 23:5For it is written: 'You shall not revile the ruler of your people.'"
23:6But Paul, knowing that one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, shouted out in the council: "Men, brothers, I am a Pharisee, son of Pharisees: concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged." 23:7And when he had said these things, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the multitude was divided. 23:8For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. 23:9And a great clamour arose. 23:9And certain of the Pharisees, rising up, were fighting, saying: "We find nothing evil in this man: what if a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel?"
23:10And when a great dissension had arisen, the tribune, fearing that Paul would be torn apart by them, ordered the soldiers to go down, and to snatch him from their midst, and to bring him into the camp. 23:11And on the following night the Lord, standing by him, said: "Be steadfast: for as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify at Rome too." 23:12And when day had come certain of the Jews gathered themselves together, and bound themselves by a vow, saying that they would neither eat, nor drink until they had killed Paul. 23:13And there were more than forty men who had made this conspiracy: who went to the chiefs of the priests and the elders, and said: "We have bound ourselves by a vow to taste nothing, until we kill Paul.
23:15Now therefore you make it known to the tribune with the council, that he bring him down to you, as though you were going to learn something more certain about him. 23:15And we, before he draws near, are ready to kill him." 23:16And when the son of Paul's sister had heard of the ambush, he came, and went into the camp, and reported it to Paul. 23:17And Paul, calling to himself one of the centurions, said: "Bring this young man to the tribune, for he has something to report to him." 23:18And he, indeed, taking him, brought him to the tribune, and said: "Paul the prisoner asked me to bring this young man to you, who has something to say to you."
23:19And the tribune, taking his hand, withdrew with him apart, and asked him: "What is it that you have to report to me?" 23:20And he said: "The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down into the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire something more certain about him: but do not believe them: for more than forty men of them are lying in wait for him, who have bound themselves by a vow not to eat, nor drink until they kill him: and now they are ready, awaiting your promise." 23:22The tribune therefore dismissed the young man, commanding him to tell no one that he had made these things known to him.
23:23And two centurions having been called, he said to them: "Make ready two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen from the third hour of the night, and make ready beasts, that, setting Paul on them, they might bring him safe to Felix the governor." 23:25(For he feared that perhaps the Jews might seize him, and kill him, and he himself afterwards might suffer slander, as though he were going to take money.) Writing a letter containing these things: "Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix, greeting. 23:27This man, seized by the Jews, and beginning to be killed by them, coming upon them with the army I rescued, having learned that he is a Roman.
23:28And wishing to know the cause which they were bringing against him, I brought him down into their council. 23:29Whom I found to be accused about questions of their law, but having no charge worthy of death or of bonds. 23:30And when it had been reported to me of an ambush which they had prepared, I sent him to you, giving notice also to his accusers to speak before you. 23:30Farewell." 23:31The soldiers therefore, according to the command given them, taking Paul, brought him by night to Antipatris. 23:32And on the next day, the horsemen having been sent off to go with him, they returned to the camp. 23:33Who, when they had come to Caesarea, and had delivered the letter to the governor, set Paul too before him.
23:34And when he had read it, and had asked from what province he was, and learning that he was from Cilicia: "I will hear you," he said, "when your accusers have come." 23:35And he ordered him to be guarded in Herod's praetorium.