King James Bible

Christian Standard Bible

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

1Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, "Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience to this day."

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

2The high priest Ananias ordered those who were standing next to him to strike 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?

3Then Paul said to him, "God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! You are sitting there judging me according to the law, and yet in violation of the law are you ordering me to be struck?"

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

4Those standing nearby said, "Do you dare revile 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.

5"I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest," replied Paul. "For it is written, You must not speak evil of a 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.

6When Paul realized that one part of them were Sadducees and the other part were Pharisees, he cried out in the Sanhedrin, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am being judged because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead!"

7And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude 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 no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.

8For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, and neither angel nor spirit, but the Pharisees affirm them all.

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.

9The shouting grew loud, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees' party got up and argued vehemently: "We find nothing evil in this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken 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.

10When the dispute became violent, the commander feared that Paul might be torn apart by them and ordered the troops to go down, take him away from them, and bring him into the barracks.

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 following night, the Lord stood by him and said, "Have courage! For as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so it is necessary for you to testify in Rome."

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 it was morning, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.

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

13There were more than forty who had formed this plot.

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.

14These men went to the chief priests and elders and said, "We have bound ourselves under a solemn curse that we won't eat anything until we have killed 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 inquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.

15So now you, along with the Sanhedrin, make a request to the commander that he bring him down to you as if you were going to investigate his case more thoroughly. But, before he gets near, we are ready to kill him."

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

16But the son of Paul's sister, hearing about their ambush, came and entered the barracks and reported it to 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 one of the centurions and said, "Take this young man to the commander, because he has something to report to 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 he took him, brought 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."

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 him by the hand, led him aside, and inquired privately, "What is it you have to report to 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 inquire somewhat of him more perfectly.

20"The Jews," he said, "have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the Sanhedrin tomorrow, as though they are going to hold a somewhat more careful inquiry about him.

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.

21Don't let them persuade you, because there are more than forty of them lying in ambush--men who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, waiting for your consent."

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 dismissed the young man and instructed him, "Don't tell anyone that you have informed me about 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;

23He summoned two of his centurions and said, "Get two hundred soldiers ready with seventy cavalry and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight.

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

24Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to Felix the governor."

25And he wrote a letter after this manner:

25He wrote the following letter:

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

26Claudius Lysias, To the most excellent governor Felix: 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.

27When this man had been seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, I arrived with my troops and rescued him because I 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:

28Wanting to know the charge they were accusing him of, I brought him down before their Sanhedrin.

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.

29I found out that the accusations were concerning questions of their law, and that there was no charge that merited death or imprisonment.

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.

30When I was informed that there was a plot against the man, I sent him to you right away. I also ordered his accusers to state their case against him in your presence.

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

31So the soldiers took Paul during the night and brought him to Antipatris as they were ordered.

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

32The next day, they returned to the barracks, allowing the cavalry to go on with him.

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

33When these men entered Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.

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

34After he read it, he asked what province he was from. When he learned he was 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 give you a hearing whenever your accusers also get here." He ordered that he be kept under guard in Herod's palace.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.