Paul before the Sanhedrin 1 DRA And Paul looking upon the council, said: Men, brethren, I have conversed with all good conscience before God until this present 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 DRA And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to strike him on the mouth. BSB BSB: At this, the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.
3 DRA Then Paul said to him: God shall strike thee, thou whited wall. For sittest thou to judge me according to the law, and contrary to the law commandest me to be struck? 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 DRA And they that stood by said: Dost thou revile the high priest of God? BSB BSB: But those standing nearby said, “How dare you insult the high priest of God!”
5 DRA And Paul said: I knew not, brethren, that he is the high priest. For it is written: Thou shalt not speak evil of the prince 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 DRA And Paul knowing that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, cried out in the council: Men, brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees: concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. 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 DRA And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between 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 DRA For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. BSB BSB: For the Sadducees say that there is neither a resurrection nor angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.
9 DRA And there arose a great cry. And some of the Pharisees rising up, strove, saying: We find no evil in this man. What if a spirit hath 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 DRA And when there arose a great dissension, the tribune fearing lest Paul should be pulled in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle. 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 DRA And the night following the Lord standing by him, said: Be constant; for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome. 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 DRA And when day was come, some of the Jews gathered together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying, that they would neither eat, nor drink, till they killed 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 DRA And they were more than forty men that had made this conspiracy. BSB BSB: More than forty of them were involved in this plot.
14 DRA Who came to the chief priests and the ancients, and said: We have bound ourselves under a great curse that we will eat nothing till we have slain 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 DRA Now therefore do you with the council signify to the tribune, that he bring him forth to you, as if you meant to know something more certain touching him. And we, before he come 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 DRA Which when Paul’s sister’s son had heard, of their lying in wait, he came and entered into the castle and told Paul. BSB BSB: But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.
17 DRA And Paul, calling to him one of the centurions, said: Bring this young man to the tribune, for he hath some thing to tell 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 DRA And he taking him, brought him to the tribune, and said: Paul, the prisoner, desired me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath some thing 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 DRA And the tribune taking him by the hand, went aside with him privately, and asked him: What is it that thou hast to tell 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 DRA And he said: The Jews have agreed to desire thee, that thou wouldst bring forth Paul tomorrow into the council, as if they meant to inquire some thing more certain touching 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 DRA But do not thou give credit to them; for there lie in wait for him more than forty men of them, who have bound themselves by oath neither to eat, nor to drink, till they have killed him: and they are now ready, looking for a 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 DRA The tribune therefore dismissed the young man, charging him that he should tell no man, that he had made known these things unto him. 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 DRA Then having called two centurions, he said to them: Make ready two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen 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 DRA And provide beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe to Felix the governor. BSB BSB: Provide mounts for Paul to take him safely to Governor Felix.”
25 DRA (For he feared lest perhaps the Jews might take him away by force and kill him, and he should afterwards be slandered, as if he was to take money.) And he wrote a letter after this manner: BSB BSB: And he wrote the following letter:
26 DRA Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor, Felix, greeting. BSB BSB: Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings.
27 DRA This man being taken by the Jews, and ready to be killed by them, I rescued coming in with an army, understanding that he is 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 DRA And meaning to know the cause which they objected unto him, I brought him forth into their council. BSB BSB: and since I wanted to understand their charges against him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin.
29 DRA Whom I found to be accused concerning questions of their law; but having nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bands. BSB BSB: I found that the accusation involved questions about their own law, but there was no charge worthy of death or imprisonment.
30 DRA And when I was told of ambushes that they had prepared for him, I sent him to thee, signifying also to his accusers to plead before thee. 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 DRA Then the soldiers, according as it was commanded them, taking Paul, brought him by night to Antipatris. BSB BSB: So the soldiers followed their orders and brought Paul by night to Antipatris.
32 DRA And the next day, leaving the horsemen to go with him, they returned to the castle. BSB BSB: The next day they returned to the barracks and let the horsemen go on with him.
34 DRA And when he had read it, and had asked of what province he was, and understood 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 DRA I will hear thee, said he, when thy accusers come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s judgment hall. 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.