Paul before the Sanhedrin 1 UEB Paul looked directly at the council members and said, "Brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience until 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 UEB The high priest Ananias commanded those who 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 UEB Then said Paul to him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall. Are you sitting to judge me by the law, yet order me to be struck, against the law?" 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 UEB Those who stood by said, "Is this how you insult God's high priest?" BSB BSB: But those standing nearby said, “How dare you insult the high priest of God!”
5 UEB Paul said, "I did not know, brothers, that he was high priest. For it is written, You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your 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 UEB When Paul saw that the one part of the council were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he spoke loudly in the council, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is because I have the certain hope of the resurrection of the dead that I am being judged." 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 UEB When he said this, an argument began between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the crowd 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 UEB For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, no angels, and no spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge all 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 UEB So a large uproar occurred, and some of the scribes belonging to the Pharisees stood up and argued, saying, "We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?" 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 UEB When there arose a great argument, the chief captain feared that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, so he commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among the council members, and 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 UEB The following night the Lord stood beside him and said, "Do not be afraid, for as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness in 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 UEB When it became day, some Jews formed a conspiracy and called a curse down upon themselves with an oath not to eat nor drink anything until they had 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 UEB There were more than forty men who formed this conspiracy. BSB BSB: More than forty of them were involved in this plot.
14 UEB They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, "We have put ourselves under a great curse, to eat nothing until we have killed 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 UEB Now, therefore, let the council tell the chief captain to bring him down to you, as if you would decide his case more precisely. As for us, we are ready to kill him before he comes here." 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 UEB But Paul's sister's son heard that they were lying in wait, so he went and entered the fortress 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 UEB Paul called one of the centurions and said, "Take this young man to the chief captain, for he has something 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 UEB So the centurion took the young man and brought him to the chief captain and said, "Paul the prisoner called me to him, and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to say to you." 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 UEB The chief captain took him by the hand to a private place and asked him, "What is it that you have 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 UEB The young man said, "The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring down Paul tomorrow to the council, as if they were going to ask more precisely about his case. 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 UEB But do not give in to them, because there are more than forty men who are lying in wait for him. They have called a curse down on themselves, neither to eat nor to drink until they have killed him. Even now they are ready, waiting for consent from you." 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 UEB So the chief captain let the young man go, after instructing him, "Tell no one that you have said 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 UEB Then he called to him two of the centurions and said, "Get two hundred soldiers ready to go as far as Caesarea, and seventy horsemen also, and two hundred spearmen. You will leave at 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 UEB He also ordered them to provide animals which Paul could ride, and to take him safely to Felix the governor. BSB BSB: Provide mounts for Paul to take him safely to Governor Felix.”
25 UEB Then he wrote a letter like this: BSB BSB: And he wrote the following letter:
26 UEB "Claudius Lysias to the most excellent Governor Felix, greetings. BSB BSB: Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings.
27 UEB This man was arrested by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, when I came upon them with soldiers and rescued him, since I learned that he was a Roman citizen. 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 UEB I wanted to know why they accused him, so I took 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 UEB I learned that he was being accused about questions concerning their own law, but that there was no accusation against him that deserved death or imprisonment. BSB BSB: I found that the accusation involved questions about their own law, but there was no charge worthy of death or imprisonment.
30 UEB Then it was made known to me that there was a plot against the man, so I immediately sent him to you, and instructed his accusers also to bring their charges against him in your presence. 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 UEB So the soldiers obeyed their orders. They 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 UEB On the next day, most of the soldiers left the horsemen to go with him and they themselves returned to the fortress. BSB BSB: The next day they returned to the barracks and let the horsemen go on with him.
34 UEB When the governor read the letter, he asked what province Paul was from. When he learned that he was from Cilicia, BSB BSB: The governor read the letter and asked what province Paul was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,
35 UEB he said, "I will hear you fully when your accusers come here." Then he commanded him to be kept in Herod's government headquarters. 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.