Paul before the Sanhedrin 1 DBY And Paul, fixing his eyes on the council, said, Brethren, I have walked in all good conscience with God unto this day. BSB BSB: Paul looked directly at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have conducted myself before God in all good conscience to this day.”
2 DBY But the high priest Ananias ordered those standing by him to smite his mouth. BSB BSB: At this, the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.
3 DBY Then Paul said to him, God will smite thee, whited wall. And thou, dost thou sit judging me according to the law, and breaking the law commandest me to be smitten? BSB BSB: Then Paul said to him, “God 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.”
4 DBY And those that stood by said, Dost thou rail against the high priest of God? BSB BSB: But those standing nearby said, “How dare you insult the high priest of God!”
5 DBY And Paul said, I was not conscious, brethren, that he was high priest; for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evilly of the ruler of thy people. BSB BSB: “Brothers,” Paul 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.’”
6 DBY But Paul, knowing that the one part of them were of the Sadducees and the other of the Pharisees, cried out in the council, Brethren, I am a Pharisee, son of Pharisees: I am judged concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead. BSB BSB: Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. It is because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”
7 DBY And when he had spoken this, there was a tumult of the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the multitude was divided. BSB BSB: As soon as he had said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.
8 DBY For Sadducees say there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but Pharisees confess both of them. BSB BSB: For the Sadducees say that there is neither a resurrection nor angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.
9 DBY And there was a great clamour, and the scribes of the Pharisees' part rising up contended, saying, We find nothing evil in this man; and if a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel... BSB BSB: A 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 or an angel has spoken to him?”
10 DBY And a great tumult having arisen, the chiliarch, fearing lest Paul should have been torn in pieces by them, commanded the troop to come down and take him by force from the midst of them, and to bring him into the fortress. BSB BSB: The dispute grew so violent that the commander 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.
11 DBY But the following night the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good courage; for as thou hast testified the things concerning me at Jerusalem, so thou must bear witness at Rome also. BSB BSB: The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so also you must testify in Rome.”
The Plot to Kill Paul (John 16:1–4)
12 DBY And when it was day, the Jews, having banded together, put themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they should kill Paul. BSB BSB: When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
13 DBY And they were more than forty who had joined together in this oath; BSB BSB: More than forty of them were involved in this plot.
14 DBY and they went to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have cursed ourselves with a curse to taste nothing until we kill Paul. BSB BSB: They 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.
15 DBY Now therefore do ye with the council make a representation to the chiliarch so that he may bring him down to you, as about to determine more precisely what concerns him, and we, before he draws near, are ready to kill him. BSB BSB: Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him down to you on the pretext of examining his case more carefully. We are ready to kill him on the way.”
16 DBY But Paul's sister's son, having heard of the lying in wait, came and entered into the fortress and reported it to Paul. BSB BSB: But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.
17 DBY And Paul, having called one of the centurions, said, Take this youth to the chiliarch, for he has something to report to him. BSB BSB: Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.”
18 DBY He therefore, having taken him with him , led him to the chiliarch, and says, The prisoner Paul called me to him and asked me to lead this youth to thee, who has something to say to thee. BSB BSB: So the centurion took him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner sent and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.”
19 DBY And the chiliarch having taken him by the hand, and having gone apart in private, inquired, What is it that thou hast to report to me? BSB BSB: The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside, and asked, “What do you need to tell me?”
20 DBY And he said, The Jews have agreed together to make a request to thee, that thou mayest bring Paul down to-morrow into the council, as about to inquire something more precise concerning him. BSB BSB: He answered, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul to the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of acquiring more information about him.
21 DBY Do not thou then be persuaded by them, for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, who have put themselves under a curse neither to eat nor drink till they kill him; and now they are ready waiting the promise from thee. BSB BSB: Do 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.”
22 DBY The chiliarch then dismissed the youth, commanding him , Utter to no one that thou hast represented these things to me. BSB BSB: So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, “Do not tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”
Paul Sent to Felix 23 DBY And having called to him certain two of the centurions, he said, Prepare two hundred soldiers that they may go as far as Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred light-armed footmen, for the third hour of the night. BSB BSB: Then 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.
24 DBY And he ordered them to provide beasts, that they might set Paul on them and carry him safe through to Felix the governor, BSB BSB: Provide mounts for Paul to take him safely to Governor Felix.”
25 DBY having written a letter, couched in this form: BSB BSB: And he wrote the following letter:
26 DBY Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix, greeting. BSB BSB: Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings.
27 DBY This man, having been taken by the Jews, and being about to be killed by them, I came up with the military and took out of their hands , having learned that he was a Roman. BSB BSB: This man was seized by the Jews, 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,
28 DBY And desiring to know the charge on which they accused him, I brought him down to their council; BSB BSB: and since I wanted to understand their charges against him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin.
29 DBY whom I found to be accused of questions of their law, but to have no charge laid against him making him worthy of death or of bonds. BSB BSB: I found that the accusation involved questions about their own law, but there was no charge worthy of death or imprisonment.
30 DBY But having received information of a plot about to be put in execution against the man by the Jews , I have immediately sent him to thee, commanding also his accusers to say before thee the things that are against him. Farewell. BSB BSB: When 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.
31 DBY The soldiers therefore, according to what was ordered them, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris, BSB BSB: So the soldiers followed their orders and brought Paul by night to Antipatris.
32 DBY and on the morrow, having left the horsemen to go with him, returned to the fortress. BSB BSB: The next day they returned to the barracks and let the horsemen go on with him.
34 DBY And having read it , and asked of what eparchy he was, and learned that he was of Cilicia, BSB BSB: The governor read the letter and asked what province Paul was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,
35 DBY he said, I will hear thee fully when thine accusers also are arrived. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's praetorium. BSB BSB: he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers arrive.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s Praetorium.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.