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ACTS ยท Chapter 23
23:1 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren,
I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
23:2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to
strike him on the mouth.
23:3 Then said Paul unto him, God shall strike you, you whitewashed
wall: for sit you to judge me after the law, and command me to be smitten
contrary to the law?
23:4 And they that stood by said, Revile you God's high priest?
23:5 Then said Paul, I know not, brethren, that he was the high priest:
for it is written, You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people.
23:6 But 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.
23:7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the
Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.
23:8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel,
nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.
23:9 And 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 has spoken to him, let us not fight
against God.
23:10 And 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.
23:11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of
good cheer, Paul: for as you have testified of me in Jerusalem, so must
you bear witness also at Rome.
23:12 And 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.
23:13 And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.
23:14 And 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.
23:15 Now therefore all of you with the council signify to the chief
captain that he bring him down unto you tomorrow, as though all of you
would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, before even
he comes near, are ready to kill him.
23:16 And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he
went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.
23:17 Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring
this young man unto the chief captain: for he has a certain thing to tell
him.
23:18 So 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 you, who has something to say unto you.
23:19 Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him
aside privately, and asked him, What is that you have to tell me?
23:20 And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire you that you would
bring down Paul tomorrow into the council, as though they would enquire
somewhat of him more perfectly.
23:21 But do not you 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 you.
23:22 So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged
him, See you tell no man that you have showed these things to me.
23:23 And 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;
23:24 And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring
him safe unto Felix the governor.
23:25 And he wrote a letter after this manner:
23:26 Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sends
greeting.
23:27 This 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.
23:28 And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused
him, I brought him forth into their council:
23:29 Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but
to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.
23:30 And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man,
I sent immediately to you, and gave commandment to his accusers also to
say before you what they had against him. Farewell.
23:31 Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought
him by night to Antipatris.
23:32 On the next day they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned
to the castle:
23:33 Who, when they came to Caesarea and delivered the epistle to
the governor, presented Paul also before him.
23:34 And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province
he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia;
23:35 I will hear you, said he, when your accusers are also come. And
he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall.
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