New Living Translation

King James Bible

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

1And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.

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

2And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite 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 said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?

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

4And they that stood by said, Revilest thou 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.’ ”

5Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy 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!”

6But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

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

7And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude 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 that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.

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.”

9And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.

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.

10And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.

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

11And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at 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.

12And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

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

13And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.

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.

14And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain 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.”

15Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would inquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, 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.

16And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told 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 unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell 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, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee.

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

19Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that thou hast to tell 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.

20And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would inquire somewhat of him more perfectly.

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.”

21But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee.

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

22So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast shewed these things to me.

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.

23And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;

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

24And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.

25Then he wrote this letter to the governor:

25And he wrote a letter after this manner:

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

26Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.

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.

27This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.

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

28And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:

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

29Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.

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.”

30And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell.

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

31Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.

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

32On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:

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

33Who, when they came to Caesarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.

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

34And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of 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.

35I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.