(KJV) Acts 23¹

⥃Paul before the Sanhedrin

[1] And Paul, earnestly² beholding the council, said, Men³ [and] brethren, I have⁴ lived in all good conscience before God until this day. [2] And the high priest Ananias⁵ commanded them that stood by him to smite⁶ him on the mouth. [3] Then said Paul unto him, God⁷ shall smite thee, [thou] whited⁸ wall: for⁹ sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten¹⁰ contrary to the law? [4] And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God’s high priest? [5] Then said Paul, I wist¹¹ not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou¹² shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people. [6] But when Paul¹³ perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men [and] brethren, I am¹⁴ a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope¹⁵ and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. [7] And when he had so said, there¹⁶ arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided. [8] For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.¹⁷ [9] And there arose a great cry: and the scribes [that we¹⁸re] of the Pharisees’ part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if¹⁹ a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let²⁰ us not fight against God. [10] And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing²¹ lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take²² him by force from among them, and to bring [him] into the castle. [11] And the night following the Lord²³ stood by him, and said, Be²⁴ of good cheer, Paul: for²⁵ as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must²⁶ thou bear witness also at Rome.

⥃The Plot to Kill Paul ^{[ John 16:1–4 ]}

[12] And when it was day, certain²⁷ of the Jews banded together, and bound²⁸ themselves under a curse²⁹, saying that³⁰ they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. [13] And they were more than forty which³¹ had made this conspiracy. [14] And 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.³² [15] Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he³³ bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him. [16] And when³⁴ Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, he went³⁵ and entered into the castle, and told Paul. [17] Then Paul called one³⁶ of the centurions unto [him], and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him. [18] So he took him, and brought [him] to the chief captain, and said, Paul³⁷ the prisoner called me unto [him], and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something³⁸ to say unto thee. [19] Then the chief captain took³⁹ him by the hand, and went [with him] aside privately, and asked [him], What⁴⁰ is that thou hast to tell me? [20] And he said, The Jews⁴¹ have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as⁴² though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly. [21] But do not⁴³ thou yield unto them: for⁴⁴ there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath⁴⁵, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee. [22] So 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.⁴⁶

⥃Paul Sent to Felix

[23] And he called unto [him] two centurions⁴⁷, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Cesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at⁴⁸ the third hour of the night; [24] And provide [them] beasts⁴⁹, that they may set Paul on, and bring [him] safe unto Felix⁵⁰ the governor⁵¹. [25] And he wrote a letter after this manner: [26] Claudius Lysias unto the most⁵² excellent governor Felix [sendeth] greeting⁵³. [27] This man was taken⁵⁴ of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having⁵⁵ understood that he was a Roman. [28] And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:⁵⁶ [29] Whom I perceived to be accused of questions⁵⁷ of their law, but⁵⁸ to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds. [30] And when it was⁵⁹ told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave⁶⁰ commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what [they had] against him. Farewell⁶¹. [31] Then the soldiers, as⁶² it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought [him] by night to Antipatris. [32] On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle: [33] Who, when they came to Cesarea, and delivered⁶³ the epistle to the governor, presented⁶⁴ Paul also before him. [34] And when the governor had read [the letter], he asked⁶⁵ of what province he was. And when he understood that [he was] of Cilicia⁶⁶; [35] I will hear thee, said he, when⁶⁷ thin⁶⁸e accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s judgment⁶⁹ hall.