Acts 23 ESV | WeDevote Bible

1And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, 23:1 2 Cor. 1:12; 2 Tim. 1:3; [ch. 24:16; Job 27:5, 6; 1 Cor. 4:4; 2 Cor. 4:2; 5:11; Heb. 13:18]I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.”

2And the high priest 23:2 ch. 24:1Ananias commanded those who stood by him 23:2 1 Kgs. 22:24; Lam. 3:30; Mic. 5:1; 2 Cor. 11:20to strike him on the mouth.

3Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you 23:3 [Matt. 23:27] whitewashed 23:3 [Isa. 30:13; Ezek. 13:10-14] wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet 23:3 Deut. 25:1, 2; See John 7:51contrary to the law you 23:3 Deut. 25:1, 2; See John 7:51order me to be struck?”

4Those who stood by said, “Would you revile 23:4 [1 Sam. 2:28; Ps. 106:16]God’s high priest?”

5And Paul said, 23:5 [ch. 24:1] “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, 23:5 Cited from Ex. 22:28‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”

6Now when Paul perceived that one part were 23:6 See Matt. 22:23Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, 23:6 ch. 26:5; Phil. 3:5I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is 23:6 ch. 24:15, 21; 26:6-8; 28:20with respect to the 23:6 [ch. 2:26, 27]; See Col. 1:5hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”

7And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.

8For the Sadducees 23:8 Luke 20:27; [1 Cor. 15:12]say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

9Then a great clamor arose, and some of 23:9 ch. 4:5; Mark 2:16; Luke 5:30the scribes of the Pharisees’ party stood up and contended sharply, 23:9 [ver. 29] “We find nothing wrong in this man. What 23:9 [ch. 22:7, 17, 18; John 12:29]if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?”

10And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into 23:10 ver. 16, 32; ch. 21:34; 22:24the barracks.

1123:11 ch. 18:9; 27:23The following night 23:11 1 Sam. 3:10the Lord stood by him and said, 23:11 [2 Tim. 4:17] “Take courage, for 23:11 [ch. 19:21] as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must 23:11 ch. 22:15testify also in Rome.”

A Plot to Kill Paul

12When it was day, 23:12 ver. 30the Jews made a plot and 23:12 ver. 14, 21bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

13There were more than forty who made this conspiracy.

14They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul.

15Now therefore you, along with the council, give notice to the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes near.”

16Now the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, so he went and entered 23:16 ver. 10, 32the barracks and told Paul.

17Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him.”

18So he took him and brought him to the tribune and said, “Paul 23:18 See Eph. 3:1the prisoner called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, as he has something to say to you.”

19The tribune took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?”

20And he said, 23:20 ver. 14, 15“The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more closely about him.

21But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him, who 23:21 ver. 12, 14have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him. And now they are ready, waiting for your consent.”

22So the tribune dismissed the young man, charging him, “Tell no one that you have informed me of these things.”

Paul Sent to Felix the Governor

23Then he called two of the centurions and said, “Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night.23:23 That is, 9 p.m.

24Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to 23:24 ver. 26; ch. 24:2; 25:14Felix 23:24 ver. 33; ch. 24:1, 10; 26:30; See Luke 20:20the governor.”

25And he wrote a letter to this effect:

26“Claudius Lysias, to 23:26 ch. 24:1his Excellency the governor Felix, 23:26 See ch. 15:23greetings.

2723:27 ch. 21:27This man was seized by the Jews and 23:27 [ch. 21:32, 33] was about to be killed by them 23:27 [ch. 21:32, 33] when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, 23:27 [ch. 22:25-29]having learned that he was a Roman citizen.

28And 23:28 ch. 22:30desiring to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council.

29I found that he was being accused 23:29 ch. 18:15; 25:19about questions of their law, but 23:29 ch. 25:25; 26:31; 28:18; [ver. 9]charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment.

3023:30 ver. 20And when it was disclosed to me 23:30 ver. 12; See ch. 9:24that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, 23:30 ver. 35; [ch. 24:19; 25:16]ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him.”

31So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.

32And on the next day they returned to 23:32 ver. 10, 16the barracks, letting the horsemen go on with him.

33When they had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him.

34On reading the letter, he asked what 23:34 ch. 25:1province he was from. And when he learned 23:34 ch. 21:39that he was from Cilicia,

35he said, “I will give you a hearing 23:35 ver. 30when your accusers arrive.” And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod’s 23:35 See Matt. 27:27praetorium.

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