Parallel Bible results for "acts 23"

Acts 23

New Revised Standard NRS

1 While Paul was looking intently at the council he said, "Brothers, up to this day I have lived my life with a clear conscience before God."

2 Then the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near him to strike him on the mouth.

3 At this Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting there to judge me according to the law, and yet in violation of the law you order me to be struck?"

4 Those standing nearby said, "Do you dare to insult God's high priest?

5 And Paul said, "I did not realize, brothers, that he was high priest; for it is written, "You shall not speak evil of a leader of your people.' "

6 When Paul noticed that some were Sadducees and others were Pharisees, he called out in the council, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am on trial concerning the hope of the resurrection of the dead."

7 When he said this, a dissension began between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.

8 (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, or angel, or spirit; but the Pharisees acknowledge all three.)

9 Then a great clamor arose, and certain scribes of the Pharisees' group stood up and contended, "We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?"

10 When the dissension became violent, the tribune, fearing that they would tear Paul to pieces, ordered the soldiers to go down, take him by force, and bring him into the barracks.

11 That night the Lord stood near him and said, "Keep up your courage! For just as you have testified for me in Jerusalem, so you must bear witness also in Rome."

12 In the morning the Jews joined in a conspiracy and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.

13 There were more than forty who joined in this conspiracy.

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

15 Now then, you and the council must notify the tribune to bring him down to you, on the pretext that you want to make a more thorough examination of his case. And we are ready to do away with him before he arrives."

16 Now the son of Paul's sister heard about the ambush; so he went and gained entrance to the barracks and told Paul.

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

18 So he took him, brought him to the tribune, and said, "The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this young man to you; he has something to tell you."

19 The tribune took him by the hand, drew him aside privately, and asked, "What is it that you have to report to me?

20 He answered, "The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire more thoroughly into his case.

21 But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him. They have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink until they kill him. They are ready now and are waiting for your consent.

22 So the tribune dismissed the young man, ordering him, "Tell no one that you have informed me of this."

23 Then he summoned two of the centurions and said, "Get ready to leave by nine o'clock tonight for Caesarea with two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen.

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

25 He wrote a letter to this effect:

26 "Claudius Lysias to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings.

27 This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, but when I had learned that he was a Roman citizen, I came with the guard and rescued him.

28 Since I wanted to know the charge for which they accused him, I had him brought to their council.

29 I found that he was accused concerning questions of their law, but was charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment.

30 When I was informed that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him. "

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

32 The next day they let the horsemen go on with him, while they returned to the barracks.

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

34 On reading the letter, he asked what province he belonged to, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia,

35 he said, "I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive." Then he ordered that he be kept under guard in Herod's headquarters.

The Bible in Basic English BBE

1 And Paul, looking fixedly at the Sanhedrin, said, My brothers, my life has been upright before God till this day.

2 And the high priest, Ananias, gave orders to those who were near him to give him a blow on the mouth.

3 Then Paul said to him, God will give blows to you, you whitewashed wall: are you here to be my judge by law, and by your orders am I given blows against the law?

4 And those who were near said, Do you say such words against God's high priest

5 And Paul said, Brother, I had no idea that he was the high priest: for it has been said, You may not say evil about the ruler of your people.

6 But when Paul saw that half of them were Sadducees and the rest Pharisees, he said in the Sanhedrin, Brothers, I am a Pharisee, and the son of Pharisees: I am here to be judged on the question of the hope of the coming back from the dead.

7 And when he had said this, there was an argument between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and a division in the meeting.

8 For the Sadducees say that there is no coming back from the dead, and no angels or spirits: but the Pharisees have belief in all these.

9 And there was a great outcry: and some of the scribes on the side of the Pharisees got up and took part in the discussion, saying, We see no evil in this man: what if he has had a revelation from an angel or a spirit?

10 And when the argument became very violent, the chief captain, fearing that Paul would be pulled in two by them, gave orders to the armed men to take him by force from among them, and take him into the army building.

11 And the night after, the Lord came to his side and said, Be of good heart, for as you have been witnessing for me in Jerusalem, so will you be my witness in Rome.

12 And when it was day, the Jews came together and put themselves under an oath that they would take no food or drink till they had put Paul to death.

13 And more than forty of them took this oath.

14 And they came to the chief priests and the rulers and said, We have taken a great oath to take no food till we have put Paul to deat

15 So now, will you and the Sanhedrin make a request to the military authorities to have him sent down to you, as if you were desiring to go into the business in greater detail; and we, before ever he gets to you, will be waiting to put him to death.

16 But Paul's sister's son had word of their design, and he came into the army building and gave news of it to Paul.

17 And Paul sent for a captain and said, Take this young man to your chief, for he has news for him.

18 So he took him to the chief captain and said, Paul, the prisoner, made a request to me to take this young man to you, for he has something to say to you.

19 And the chief took him by the hand and, going on one side, said to him privately, What is it you have to say to me

20 And he said, The Jews are in agreement together to make a request to you for Paul to be taken, on the day after this, into the Sanhedrin, to be questioned in greater detail.

21 But do not give way to them, for more than forty of them are waiting for him, having taken an oath not to take food or drink till they have put him to death: and now they are ready, waiting for your order

22 So the chief captain let the young man go, saying to him, Do not say to anyone that you have given me word of these things.

23 And he sent for two captains and said, Make ready two hundred men, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen, to go to Caesarea, at the third hour of the night:

24 And get beasts so that they may put Paul on them, and take him safely to Felix, the ruler.

25 And he sent a letter in these words:

26 Claudius Lysias, to the most noble ruler, Felix, peace be with you.

27 This man was taken by the Jews, and was about to be put to death by them, when I came on them with the army and took him out of danger, having knowledge that he was a Roman.

28 And, desiring to get at the reason for their attack on him, I took him down to their Sanhedrin:

29 Then it became clear to me that it was a question of their law, and that nothing was said against him which might be a reason for prison or death.

30 And when news was given to me that a secret design was being made against the man, I sent him straight away to you, giving orders to those who are against him to make their statements before you.

31 So the armed men, as they were ordered, took Paul and came by night to Antipatris.

32 But on the day after, they sent the horsemen on with him, and went back to their place:

33 And they, when they came to Caesarea, gave the letter to the ruler, and took Paul before him.

34 And after reading it, he said, What part of the country do you come from? And, hearing that he was from Cilicia,

35 I will give hearing to your cause, he said, when those who are against you have come. And he gave orders for him to be kept in Herod's Praetorium.