Paul before the Sanhedrin

1Paul (humble) looked directly at the Sanhedrin (the Council)a and said, “Brothers, I have conducted myself before God {Theō} in all good conscience to this day.”

2At this, the high priest Ananias (YHWH is gracious) ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.

3Then Paul (humble) said to him, “God {Theos} will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit here to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck.”

4But those standing nearby said, “How dare you insult the high priest of God {Theou}!”

5“Brothers,” Paul (humble) replied, “I was not aware that he was the high priest, for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people <Exo 22:28>.’b”

6Then Paul (humble), knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin (the Council), “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. It is because of my hope in the resurrection (rising again) of the dead that I am on trial.”

7As soon as he had said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8For the Sadducees say that there is neither a resurrection (rising again) nor angels (messengers) nor spirits {pneuma}, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

9A great clamor arose, and some scribes from the party of the Pharisees got up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit {pneuma} or an angel (messenger) has spoken to him?” 10The dispute grew so violent that the commander (of a thousand men) was afraid they would tear Paul to pieces. He ordered the soldiers to go down and remove him by force and bring him into the barracks.

11The following night the Lord {Kyrios} stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem (city of peace), so also you must testify in Rome.”

The Plot to Kill Paul
(John 16:1–4)

12When daylight came, the Jews (people of praise) formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul (humble). 13More than forty of them were involved in this plot. 14They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul (humble). 15Now then, you⁺ and the Sanhedrin (the Council) petition the commander (of a thousand men) to bring him down to you⁺ on the pretext of examining his case more carefully. We are ready to kill him on the way.”

16But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the plot (the ambush),c he went into the barracks and told Paul (humble). 17Then Paul (humble) called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander (of a thousand men); he has something to tell him.”

18So the centurion took him to the commander (of a thousand men) and said, “Paul (humble) the prisoner sent and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.”

19The commander (of a thousand men) took the young man by the hand, drew him aside, and asked, “What do you need to tell me?”

20He answered, “The Jews (people of praise) have agreed to ask you to bring Paul (humble) to the Sanhedrin (the Council) tomorrow on the pretext of acquiring more information about him. 21Do not let them persuade you, because more than forty men are waiting to ambush him. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him; they are ready now, awaiting your consent.”

22So the commander (of a thousand men) dismissed the young man and instructed him, “Do not tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”

Paul Sent to Felix

23Then he called two of his centurions and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea in the third hour of the night (at nine tonight).d 24Provide mounts for Paul (humble) to take him safely to Governor Felix (lucky).” 25And he wrote the following letter {epistolēn}:

26Claudius Lysias,

To His Excellency, Governor Felix (lucky):

Greetings.

27This man was seized by the Jews (people of praise), and they were about to kill him when I came with my troops to rescue him. For I had learned that he is a Roman citizen, 28and since I wanted to understand their charges against him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin (the Council). 29I found that the accusation involved questions about their own law, but there was no charge worthy of death or imprisonment.

30When I was informed that there was a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also instructed his accusers to present their case against him before you.

31So the soldiers followed their orders and brought Paul (humble) by night to Antipatris. 32The next day they returned to the barracks and let the horsemen go on with him. 33When the horsemen arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter {epistolēn} to the governor and presented Paul (humble) to him.

34The governor read the letter and asked what province Paul was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia, 35he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers arrive.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s Praetorium.