International Standard Version

King James Bible

1Paul looked straight at the Council and said, "Brothers, with a clear conscience I have done my duty before God up to this very day."

1And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.

2Then the high priest Ananias ordered the men standing near him to strike him on the mouth.

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

3At this Paul told him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! How can you sit there and judge me according to the Law, and yet in violation of the Law order me to be struck?"

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?

4The men standing near him asked, "Do you mean to insult God's high priest?"

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

5Paul answered, "I didn't realize, brothers, that he is the high priest. After all, it is written, 'You must not speak evil about a ruler of your people.'"

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.

6When Paul saw that some of them were Sadducees and others were Pharisees, he shouted in the Council, "Brothers, I'm a Pharisee and a descendant of Pharisees. I'm on trial concerning the hope that the dead will be resurrected."

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.

7After he said that, an angry quarrel broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided,

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

8because the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection and that there is no such thing as an angel or spirit, but the Pharisees believe in all those things.

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

9There was a great deal of shouting until some of the scribes who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and argued forcefully, "We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?"

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.

10The quarrel was becoming violent, and the tribune was afraid that they would tear Paul to pieces. So he ordered the soldiers to go down, take him away from them by force, and bring him into the barracks.

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.

11That night the Lord stood near Paul and said, "Have courage! For just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, you must testify in Rome, too."

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.

12In the morning, the Jewish leaders formed a conspiracy and took an oath not to eat or drink anything before they had killed Paul.

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.

13More than 40 men formed this conspiracy.

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

14They went to the high priests and elders and said, "We have taken a solemn oath not to taste any food before we have killed Paul.

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.

15Now then, you and the Council must notify the tribune to bring him down to you on the pretext that you want to look into his case more carefully, but before he arrives we'll be ready to kill him."

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

16But the son of Paul's sister heard about the ambush, so he came and got into the barracks and told Paul.

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

17Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, "Take this young man to the tribune, because he has something to tell him."

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.

18So the centurion took him, brought him to the tribune, and said, "The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you."

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.

19The tribune took him by the hand, stepped aside to be alone with him, and asked, "What have you got to tell me?"

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?

20He answered, "The Jewish leaders have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the Council tomorrow as though they were going to examine his case more carefully.

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 inquire somewhat of him more perfectly.

21Don't believe them, because more than 40 of them are planning to ambush him. They've taken an oath not to eat or drink before they've killed him. They are ready now, just waiting for your consent."

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.

22The tribune dismissed the young man and ordered him not to tell anyone that he had notified him.

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.

23Then he summoned two centurions and ordered, "Get 200 soldiers ready to leave for Caesarea at nine o'clock tonight, along with 70 mounted soldiers and 200 soldiers with spears.

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;

24Provide a mount for Paul to ride, and take him safely to Governor Felix."

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

25He wrote a letter with this message:

25And he wrote a letter after this manner:

26"From: Claudius Lysias To: Governor Felix Greetings, Your Excellency:

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

27This man had been seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them when I went with the guard and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen.

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.

28I wanted to know the exact charge they were making against him, so I had him brought before their Council.

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

29I found that, although he was charged with questions about their Law, there was no charge against him deserving death or imprisonment.

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.

30Since a plot against the man has been reported to me, I'm sending him to you at once, and I've also ordered his accusers to present their charges against him before you."

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.

31So the soldiers, in keeping with their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.

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

32The next day, they let the horsemen ride with Paul while they returned to their barracks.

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

33When these men came to Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him.

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

34After reading the letter, the governor asked which province Paul was from. On learning that he was from Cilicia,

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

35he said, "I will hear your case when your accusers arrive." Then he ordered Paul to be kept in custody in Herod's palace.

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

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.