American Standard Version ASV
New International Version NIV
1 And Paul, looking stedfastly on the council, said, Brethren, I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day.
1
Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.”
2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.
2
At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.
3 Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: and sittest thou to judge me according to the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?
3
Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!”
4 And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest
4
Those who were standing near Paul said, “How dare you insult God’s high priest!”
5 And Paul said, I knew not, brethren, that he was high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of a ruler of thy people.
5
Paul replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’ ”
6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees: touching the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
6
Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.”
7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees; and the assembly was divided.
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When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.
8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.
8
(The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things.)
9 And there arose a great clamor: and some of the scribes of the Pharisees part stood up, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: and what if a spirit hath spoken to him, or an angel?
9
There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. “We find nothing wrong with this man,” they said. “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”
10 And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the castle.
10
The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.
11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer: for as thou hast testified concerning me at Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
11
The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”
12 And when it was day, the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
12
The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
13 And they were more than forty that made this conspiracy.
13
More than forty men were involved in this plot.
14 And they came to the chief priests and the elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, to taste nothing until we have killed Paul
14
They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.
15 Now therefore do ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you, as though ye would judge of his case more exactly: and we, before he comes near, are ready to slay him.
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Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.”
16 But Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, and he came and entered into the castle and told Paul.
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But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.
17 And Paul called unto him one of the centurions, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain; for he hath something to tell him.
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Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.”
18 So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and saith, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and asked me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say to thee.
18
So he took him to the commander. The centurion said, “Paul, the prisoner, sent for me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.”
19 And the chief captain took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, What is it that thou hast to tell me
19
The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked, “What is it you want to tell me?”
20 And he said, The Jews have agreed to ask thee to bring down Paul tomorrow unto the council, as though thou wouldest inquire somewhat more exactly concerning him.
20
He said: “Some Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him.
21 Do not thou therefore yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, who have bound themselves under a curse, neither to eat nor to drink till they have slain him: and now are they ready, looking for the promise from thee
21
Don’t give in to them, because more than forty of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are ready now, waiting for your consent to their request.”
22 So the chief captain let the young man go, charging him, Tell no man that thou hast signified these things to me.
22
The commander dismissed the young man with this warning: “Don’t tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”
23 And he called unto him two of the centurions, and said, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night:
23
Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight.
24 and [he bade them] provide beasts, that they might set Paul thereon, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.
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Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”
25 And he wrote a letter after this form:
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He wrote a letter as follows:
26 Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix, greeting.
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Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings.
27 This man was seized by the Jews, and was about to be slain of them, when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.
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This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him, but I came with my troops and rescued him, for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen.
28 And desiring to know the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him down unto their council:
28
I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin.
29 whom I found to be accused about questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.
29
I found that the accusation had to do with questions about their law, but there was no charge against him that deserved death or imprisonment.
30 And when it was shown to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to thee forthwith, charging his accusers also to speak against him before thee.
30
When I was informed of a plot to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers to present to you their case against him.
31 So the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.
31
So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul with them during the night and brought him as far as Antipatris.
32 But on the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:
32
The next day they let the cavalry go on with him, while they returned to the barracks.
33 and they, when they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, presented Paul also before him.
33
When the cavalry arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him.
34 And when he had read it, he asked of what province he was; and when he understood that he was of Cilicia,
34
The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,
35 I will hear thee fully, said he, when thine accusers also are come: and he commanded him to be kept in Herod's palace.
35
he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers get here.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s palace.
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Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.