The New Testament / Translated From the Original Greek, With Chronological Arrangement of the Sacred Books, and Improved Divisions of Chapters and Verses.

by Unknown

CHAPTER XXI.

PAUL BEFORE THE SANHEDRIM, AND SENT TO CÆSAREA FOR SAFE KEEPING.—A.D. 59.

1 ^22:30AND on the next day, wishing to know the truth in respect to what he was accused of by the Jews, [the chiliarch] released him, and commanded the chief priests and all the Sanhedrim to come together; and bringing Paul down he set him before them. ^23:1And Paul looking steadily at the Sanhedrim, said, Men and brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience to this day. ^23:2And the chief priest Ananias commanded those standing by to strike him on the mouth. ^23:3Then Paul said to him, God is about to strike you, whitewashed wall; and do you sit to judge me according to the law, and command me to be struck contrary to the law? ^23:4And those standing by said, Do you revile God's chief priest? ^23:5And Paul said, I knew not brothers that he was a chief priest; for it is written, You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people.

2 ^23:6And Paul knowing that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, cried in the Sanhedrim, Men and brothers, I am a Pharisee and the son of Pharisees; for the hope and resurrection of the dead am I under trial. ^23:7And having said this, there was a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the multitude were divided. ^23:8For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees confess both. ^23:9And there was a great cry, and the scribes of the party of the Pharisees rising up contended, saying, We find no evil in this man; but [what] if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him? ^23:10And there being a great dissension, the chiliarch, fearing that Paul would be torn in pieces by them, commanded the troops to come down and take him by force from the midst of them, and conduct him to the fortress.

3 ^23:11And on the following night the Lord stood by him and said, Be of good courage, for as you have testified of me at Jerusalem, so you must also testify at Rome. ^23:12And when it was day, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves by an oath, saying that they would not eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. ^23:13And there were more than forty who took this oath, ^23:14who came to the chief priests and elders and said, We have bound ourselves under a curse to taste nothing till we kill Paul. ^23:15Now, therefore, speak to the chiliarch, with the Sanhedrim, to bring him down to you tomorrow, as if you were about to investigate his case more accurately, and we, before he comes nigh, are ready to kill him.

4 ^23:16But a son of Paul's sister hearing of this lying in wait, went and entering into the fortress told Paul. ^23:17And Paul calling one of the centurions, said, Lead this young man to the chiliarch, for he has something to tell him. ^23:18He therefore took him and led him to the chiliarch, and said, Paul the prisoner called me and asked me to lead this young man to you, who has something to tell you. ^23:19And the chiliarch taking him by the hand and leading him aside, inquired, What is it that you have to tell me? ^23:20And he said, The Jews have entered into a compact to ask you to bring down Paul to the Sanhedrim to-morrow, as if about to learn more accurately of something concerning him. ^23:21But do not therefore be persuaded by them; for more than forty men of them lie in wait, who have taken an oath not to eat nor drink till they have killed him, and now they are ready, awaiting an answer from you. ^23:22Then the chiliarch dismissed the young man, charging him, Tell no one that you have informed me of these things.

5 ^23:23And calling two of the centurions he said, Prepare two hundred soldiers to go to Cæsarea, and seventy horsemen and two hundred light armed troops, after the third hour of the night. ^23:24And provide animals to put Paul on, and take him safely to Felix the procurator. ^23:25And he wrote a letter having this form; ^23:26Claudius Lysias to the most excellent procurator Felix, greeting. ^23:27I went with the soldiery and rescued this man, when he was seized by the Jews, and about to be killed by them, having learned that he is a Roman; ^23:28and wishing to know the cause for which they accuse him, I took him down to their Sanhedrim, ^23:29and found him criminated in respect to questions of their law, but charged with nothing worthy of death or bonds. ^23:30Being informed that a conspiracy was about to be formed against the man, I immediately sent to you, commanding also his accusers to speak before you.

6 ^23:31The soldiers therefore took Paul as they were commanded and brought him by night to Antipatris, ^23:32and the next day leaving the horsemen to go with him, they returned to the fortress. ^23:33And when they came to Cæsarea, and had delivered the letter to the procurator, they also presented Paul to him. ^23:34And having read, he asked of what province he was; and learning that he was of Cilicia, ^23:35I will hear you, he said, when your accusers have come; and he commanded him to be kept in the Prætorium of Herod.