Acts 23 NLT HCSB Parallel

◄ Acts 23 ►

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Holman Christian Standard Bible

1Gazing intently at the high council, Paul began: “Brothers, I have always lived before God with a clear conscience!”

1Paul looked intently at the Sanhedrin and said, "Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience until this day."

2Instantly Ananias the high priest commanded those close to Paul to slap him on the mouth.

2But the high priest Ananias ordered those who were standing next to him to strike him on the mouth.

3But Paul said to him, “God will slap you, you corrupt hypocrite! What kind of judge are you to break the law yourself by ordering me struck like that?”

3Then Paul said to him, "God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! You are sitting there judging me according to the law, and in violation of the law are you ordering me to be struck?"

4Those standing near Paul said to him, “Do you dare to insult God’s high priest?”

4And those standing nearby said, "Do you dare revile God's high priest?""

5“I’m sorry, brothers. I didn’t realize he was the high priest,” Paul replied, “for the Scriptures say, ‘You must not speak evil of any of your rulers.’ ”

5I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest," replied Paul. "For it is written, You must not speak evil of a ruler of your people."

6Paul realized that some members of the high council were Sadducees and some were Pharisees, so he shouted, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, as were my ancestors! And I am on trial because my hope is in the resurrection of the dead!”

6When Paul realized that one part of them were Sadducees and the other part were Pharisees, he cried out in the Sanhedrin, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees! I am being judged because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead!"

7This divided the council—the Pharisees against the Sadducees—

7When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.

8for the Sadducees say there is no resurrection or angels or spirits, but the Pharisees believe in all of these.

8For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, and no angel or spirit, but the Pharisees affirm them all.

9So there was a great uproar. Some of the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees jumped up and began to argue forcefully. “We see nothing wrong with him,” they shouted. “Perhaps a spirit or an angel spoke to him.”

9The shouting grew loud, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees' party got up and argued vehemently: "We find nothing evil in this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?"

10As the conflict grew more violent, the commander was afraid they would tear Paul apart. So he ordered his soldiers to go and rescue him by force and take him back to the fortress.

10When the dispute became violent, the commander feared that Paul might be torn apart by them and ordered the troops to go down, rescue him from them, and bring him into the barracks.

11That night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, “Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have been a witness to me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome as well.” The Plan to Kill Paul

11The following night, the Lord stood by him and said, "Have courage! For as you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome."

12The next morning a group of Jews got together and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.

12When it was day, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under a curse: neither to eat nor to drink until they had killed Paul.

13There were more than forty of them in the conspiracy.

13There were more than 40 who had formed this plot.

14They went to the leading priests and elders and told them, “We have bound ourselves with an oath to eat nothing until we have killed Paul.

14These men went to the chief priests and elders and said, "We have bound ourselves under a solemn curse that we won't eat anything until we have killed Paul.

15So you and the high council should ask the commander to bring Paul back to the council again. Pretend you want to examine his case more fully. We will kill him on the way.”

15So now you, along with the Sanhedrin, make a request to the commander that he bring him down to you as if you were going to investigate his case more thoroughly. However, before he gets near, we are ready to kill him."

16But Paul’s nephew—his sister’s son—heard of their plan and went to the fortress and told Paul.

16But the son of Paul's sister, hearing about their ambush, came and entered the barracks and reported it to Paul.

17Paul called for one of the Roman officers and said, “Take this young man to the commander. He has something important to tell him.”

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

18So the officer did, explaining, “Paul, the prisoner, called me over and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.”

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

19The commander took his hand, led him aside, and asked, “What is it you want to tell me?”

19Then the commander took him by the hand, led him aside, and inquired privately, "What is it you have to report to me?""

20Paul’s nephew told him, “Some Jews are going to ask you to bring Paul before the high council tomorrow, pretending they want to get some more information.

20The Jews," he said, "have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the Sanhedrin tomorrow, as though they are going to hold a somewhat more careful inquiry about him.

21But don’t do it! There are more than forty men hiding along the way ready to ambush him. They have vowed not to eat or drink anything until they have killed him. They are ready now, just waiting for your consent.”

21Don't let them persuade you, because there are more than 40 of them arranging to ambush him, men who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they kill him. Now they are ready, waiting for a commitment from you."

22“Don’t let anyone know you told me this,” the commander warned the young man. Paul Is Sent to Caesarea

22So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, "Don't tell anyone that you have informed me about this."

23Then the commander called two of his officers and ordered, “Get 200 soldiers ready to leave for Caesarea at nine o’clock tonight. Also take 200 spearmen and 70 mounted troops.

23He summoned two of his centurions and said, "Get 200 soldiers ready with 70 cavalry and 200 spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight.

24Provide horses for Paul to ride, and get him safely to Governor Felix.”

24Also provide mounts so they can put Paul on them and bring him safely to Felix the governor."

25Then he wrote this letter to the governor:

25He wrote a letter of this kind:

26“From Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings!

26Claudius Lysias, To the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.

27“This man was seized by some Jews, and they were about to kill him when I arrived with the troops. When I learned that he was a Roman citizen, I removed him to safety.

27When this man had been seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, I arrived with my troops and rescued him because I learned that he is a Roman citizen.

28Then I took him to their high council to try to learn the basis of the accusations against him.

28Wanting to know the charge they were accusing him of, I brought him down before their Sanhedrin.

29I soon discovered the charge was something regarding their religious law—certainly nothing worthy of imprisonment or death.

29I found out that the accusations were about disputed matters in their law, and that there was no charge that merited death or chains.

30But when I was informed of a plot to kill him, I immediately sent him on to you. I have told his accusers to bring their charges before you.”

30When I was informed that there was a plot against the man, I sent him to you right away. I also ordered his accusers to state their case against him in your presence.

31So that night, as ordered, the soldiers took Paul as far as Antipatris.

31Therefore, the soldiers took Paul during the night and brought him to Antipatris as they were ordered.

32They returned to the fortress the next morning, while the mounted troops took him on to Caesarea.

32The next day, they returned to the barracks, allowing the cavalry to go on with him.

33When they arrived in Caesarea, they presented Paul and the letter to Governor Felix.

33When these men entered Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.

34He read it and then asked Paul what province he was from. “Cilicia,” Paul answered.

34After he read it, he asked what province he was from. So when he learned he was from Cilicia,

35“I will hear your case myself when your accusers arrive,” the governor told him. Then the governor ordered him kept in the prison at Herod’s headquarters.

35he said, "I will give you a hearing whenever your accusers get here too." And he ordered that he be kept under guard in Herod's palace.

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