23:1 Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, 'My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.'
The NIV Book of Acts , Chapter 23 , Verse 1 , Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, 'My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.'
23:2 At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.
The NIV Book of Acts , Chapter 23 , Verse 2 , At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.
23:3 Then Paul said to him, 'God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!'
The NIV Book of Acts , Chapter 23 , Verse 3 , Then Paul said to him, 'God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!'
23:4 Those who were standing near Paul said, 'You dare to insult God's high priest?'
The NIV Book of Acts , Chapter 23 , Verse 4 , Those who were standing near Paul said, 'You dare to insult God's high priest?'
23:5 Paul replied, 'Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: 'Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.''
The NIV Book of Acts , Chapter 23 , Verse 5 , Paul replied, 'Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: 'Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.''
23:6 Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, 'My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead.'
The NIV Book of Acts , Chapter 23 , Verse 6 , Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, 'My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead.'
23:7 When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.
The NIV Book of Acts , Chapter 23 , Verse 7 , When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.
23:8 (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.)
The NIV Book of Acts , Chapter 23 , Verse 8 , (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.)
23:9 There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. 'We find nothing wrong with this man,' they said. 'What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?'
The NIV Book of Acts , Chapter 23 , Verse 9 , There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. 'We find nothing wrong with this man,' they said. 'What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?'
23:10 The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.
The NIV Book of Acts , Chapter 23 , Verse 10 , The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.
23:11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, 'Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.'
The NIV Book of Acts , Chapter 23 , Verse 11 , The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, 'Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.'
23:12 The next morning the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
The NIV Book of Acts , Chapter 23 , Verse 12 , The next morning the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
23:13 More than forty men were involved in this plot.
The NIV Book of Acts , Chapter 23 , Verse 13 , More than forty men were involved in this plot.
23:14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, 'We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.
The NIV Book of Acts , Chapter 23 , Verse 14 , They went to the chief priests and elders and said, 'We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.
23:15 Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.'
The NIV Book of Acts , Chapter 23 , Verse 15 , Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.'
23:16 But when the son of Paul's sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.
The NIV Book of Acts , Chapter 23 , Verse 16 , But when the son of Paul's sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.
23:17 Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, 'Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.'
The NIV Book of Acts , Chapter 23 , Verse 17 , Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, 'Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.'
23:18 So he took him to the commander. The centurion said, 'Paul, the prisoner, sent for me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.'
The NIV Book of Acts , Chapter 23 , Verse 18 , So he took him to the commander. The centurion said, 'Paul, the prisoner, sent for me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.'
23:19 The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked, 'What is it you want to tell me?'
The NIV Book of Acts , Chapter 23 , Verse 19 , The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked, 'What is it you want to tell me?'
23:20 He said: 'The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him.
The NIV Book of Acts , Chapter 23 , Verse 20 , He said: 'The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him.
23:21 Don't give in to them, because more than forty of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are ready now, waiting for your consent to their request.'
The NIV Book of Acts , Chapter 23 , Verse 21 , Don't give in to them, because more than forty of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are ready now, waiting for your consent to their request.'
23:22 The commander dismissed the young man and cautioned him, 'Don't tell anyone that you have reported this to me.'
The NIV Book of Acts , Chapter 23 , Verse 22 , The commander dismissed the young man and cautioned him, 'Don't tell anyone that you have reported this to me.'
23:23 Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, 'Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight.
The NIV Book of Acts , Chapter 23 , Verse 23 , Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, 'Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight.
23:24 Provide mounts for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.'
The NIV Book of Acts , Chapter 23 , Verse 24 , Provide mounts for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.'
23:25 He wrote a letter as follows:
The NIV Book of Acts , Chapter 23 , Verse 25 , He wrote a letter as follows:
23:26 Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings.
The NIV Book of Acts , Chapter 23 , Verse 26 , Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings.
23:27 This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him, but I came with my troops and rescued him, for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen.
The NIV Book of Acts , Chapter 23 , Verse 27 , This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him, but I came with my troops and rescued him, for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen.
23:28 I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin.
The NIV Book of Acts , Chapter 23 , Verse 28 , I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin.
23:29 I found that the accusation had to do with questions about their law, but there was no charge against him that deserved death or imprisonment.
The NIV Book of Acts , Chapter 23 , Verse 29 , I found that the accusation had to do with questions about their law, but there was no charge against him that deserved death or imprisonment.
23:30 When I was informed of a plot to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers to present to you their case against him.
The NIV Book of Acts , Chapter 23 , Verse 30 , When I was informed of a plot to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers to present to you their case against him.
23:31 So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul with them during the night and brought him as far as Antipatris.
The NIV Book of Acts , Chapter 23 , Verse 31 , So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul with them during the night and brought him as far as Antipatris.
23:32 The next day they let the cavalry go on with him, while they returned to the barracks.
The NIV Book of Acts , Chapter 23 , Verse 32 , The next day they let the cavalry go on with him, while they returned to the barracks.
23:33 When the cavalry arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him.
The NIV Book of Acts , Chapter 23 , Verse 33 , When the cavalry arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him.
23:34 The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,
The NIV Book of Acts , Chapter 23 , Verse 34 , The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,
23:35 he said, 'I will hear your case when your accusers get here.' Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod's palace.
The NIV Book of Acts , Chapter 23 , Verse 35 , he said, 'I will hear your case when your accusers get here.' Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod's palace.
