| Berean Study Bible | New International Version |
| 1Paul looked directly at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have conducted myself before God in all good conscience to this day.” | 1Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, "My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day." |
| 2At this, the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. | 2At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. |
| 3Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit here to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck.” | 3Then Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!" |
| 4But those standing nearby said, “How dare you insult the high priest of God!” | 4Those who were standing near Paul said, "How dare you insult God's high priest!" |
| 5“Brothers,” Paul replied, “I was not aware that he was the high priest, for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’ ” | 5Paul replied, "Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: 'Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.'" |
| 6Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. It is because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.” | 6Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, "My brothers, I am a Pharisee, descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead." |
| 7As soon as he had said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. | 7When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. |
| 8For the Sadducees say that there is neither a resurrection, nor angels, nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. | 8(The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things.) |
| 9A great clamor arose, and some scribes from the party of the Pharisees got up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” | 9There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. "We find nothing wrong with this man," they said. "What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?" |
| 10The dispute grew so violent that the commander was afraid they would tear Paul to pieces. He ordered the soldiers to go down and remove him by force and bring him into the barracks. | 10The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks. |
| 11The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so also you must testify in Rome.” | 11The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, "Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome." |
| 12When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. | 12The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. |
| 13More than forty of them were involved in this plot. | 13More than forty men were involved in this plot. |
| 14They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul. | 14They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, "We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul. |
| 15Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him down to you on the pretext of examining his case more carefully. We are ready to kill him on the way.” | 15Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here." |
| 16But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul. | 16But when the son of Paul's sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul. |
| 17Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.” | 17Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, "Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him." |
| 18So the centurion took him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner sent and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.” | 18So he took him to the commander. The centurion said, "Paul, the prisoner, sent for me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you." |
| 19The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside, and asked, “What do you need to tell me?” | 19The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked, "What is it you want to tell me?" |
| 20He answered, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul to the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of acquiring more information about him. | 20He said: "Some Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him. |
| 21Do not let them persuade you, because more than forty men are waiting to ambush him. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him; they are ready now, awaiting your consent.” | 21Don't give in to them, because more than forty of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are ready now, waiting for your consent to their request." |
| 22So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, “Do not tell anyone that you have reported this to me.” | 22The commander dismissed the young man with this warning: "Don't tell anyone that you have reported this to me." |
| 23Then he called two of his centurions and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea in the third hour of the night. | 23Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, "Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight. |
| 24Provide mounts for Paul to take him safely to Governor Felix.” | 24Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix." |
| 25And he wrote the following letter: | 25He wrote a letter as follows: |
| 26Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings. | 26Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings. |
| 27This man was seized by the Jews, and they were about to kill him when I came with my troops to rescue him. For I had learned that he is a Roman citizen, | 27This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him, but I came with my troops and rescued him, for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen. |
| 28and since I wanted to understand their charges against him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin. | 28I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin. |
| 29I found that the accusation involved questions about their own law, but there was no charge worthy of death or imprisonment. | 29I found that the accusation had to do with questions about their law, but there was no charge against him that deserved death or imprisonment. |
| 30When I was informed that there was a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also instructed his accusers to present their case against him before you. | 30When I was informed of a plot to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers to present to you their case against him. |
| 31So the soldiers followed their orders and brought Paul by night to Antipatris. | 31So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul with them during the night and brought him as far as Antipatris. |
| 32The next day they returned to the barracks and let the horsemen go on with him. | 32The next day they let the cavalry go on with him, while they returned to the barracks. |
| 33When the horsemen arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and presented Paul to him. | 33When the cavalry arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him. |
| 34The governor read the letter and asked what province Paul was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia, | 34The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia, |
| 35he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers arrive.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s Praetorium. | 35he said, "I will hear your case when your accusers get here." Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod's palace. |
|
