Bible, King James Version
Acts
Acts.23
[1] And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men
and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God
until this day.
[2] And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood
by him to smite him on the mouth.
[3] Then 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?
[4] And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high
priest?
[5] Then 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.
[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.
[7] And when he had so said, there arose a dissension
between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was
divided.
[8] For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection,
neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.
[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 hath spoken to him, let
us not fight against God.
[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.
[11] And 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.
[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.
[13] And they were more than forty which had made this
conspiracy.
[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.
[15] Now 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.
[16] And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in
wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.
[17] Then 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.
[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 thee, who hath something to say unto
thee.
[19] Then 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?
[20] And 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.
[21] But 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.
[22] So 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.
[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;
[24] And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on,
and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.
[25] And he wrote a letter after this manner:
[26] Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor
Felix sendeth greeting.
[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.
[28] And when I would have known the cause wherefore they
accused him, I brought him forth into their council:
[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.
[30] And 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.
[31] Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took
Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.
[32] On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him,
and returned to the castle:
[33] Who, when they came to Caesarea, and delivered the
epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.
[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;
[35] I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are
also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment
hall.
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