Paul before the Sanhedrin 1 ULT And looking intently at the Sanhedrin, Paul said,“Men, brothers, I have conducted myself toward God in all good conscience up to 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 ULT But Ananias the high priest commanded the ones standing by him to strike his mouth. BSB BSB: At this, the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.
3 ULT Then Paul said to him,“God is about to strike you, you whitewashed wall! And do you sit judging me by the law and, acting contrary to the law, command 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 ULT But the ones standing by said,“Are you insulting the high priest of God?” BSB BSB: But those standing nearby said, “How dare you insult the high priest of God!”
5 ULT And Paul said,“I did not know, brothers, that he was the 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 ULT Then Paul, realizing that one part was Sadducees and the other Pharisees, shouted in the Sanhedrin,“Men, brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead 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 ULT And when he said this, an argument happened between the Pharisees and 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 ULT For Sadducees say there is no resurrection, nor angels or spirits, but 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 ULT So a great uproar happened, and arising, some of the scribes of the party of the Pharisees were contending, saying,“We find nothing evil in this man. And if a spirit spoke 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 ULT And when a great argument happened, the chiliarch, fearing lest Paul be torn apart by them, ordered the soldiers to go down to seize him 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 ULT But on the following night, the Lord, having stood beside him, said,“Be courageous, for as you have attested the things concerning me in Jerusalem, so it is necessary also for you to testify 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 ULT And when day came, the Jews, making a conspiracy, cursed themselves, saying neither to eat nor to drink 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 ULT And the ones having made this conspiracy were more than 40, BSB BSB: More than forty of them were involved in this plot.
14 ULT who, going to the chief priests and the elders, said,“We have cursed ourselves with a 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 ULT Now, therefore, you, with the Sanhedrin, appear to the chiliarch as if you are going to examine more thoroughly the things concerning him, so that he may bring him down to you. But we are ready to kill him before he arrives.” 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 ULT But hearing the ambush, the son of the sister of Paul, going and entering into the fortress, 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 ULT So calling one of the centurions, Paul said,“Take this young man 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 ULT So taking him, he brought him to the chiliarch and says,“The prisoner, Paul, having summoned me, asked me to bring to you this young man having 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 ULT So the chiliarch, taking hold of his hand and withdrawing, was asking him in private,“What is it that you have 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 ULT So he said,“The Jews have agreed to ask you that tomorrow you might bring Paul down to the Sanhedrin, as if they were going to investigate something about him more thoroughly. 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 ULT Therefore may you not be persuaded by them, because from them more than 40 men wait in ambush for him, who have cursed themselves neither to eat nor to drink until they have killed him. Even now they are ready, waiting for the promise 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 ULT So the chiliarch dismissed the young man, commanding him to tell no one that“you have reported 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 ULT And summoning a certain two of the centurions, he said,“Prepare 200 soldiers and 70 horsemen and 200 spearmen so that they might go to Caesarea 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 ULT and to provide animals so that, having set Paul on them, they may bring him safely to Felix the governor, BSB BSB: Provide mounts for Paul to take him safely to Governor Felix.”
25 ULT writing a letter, having this form: BSB BSB: And he wrote the following letter:
26 ULT “Claudius Lysias to the most excellent Governor Felix: Greetings. BSB BSB: Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings.
27 ULT This man, having been seized by the Jews and about to be killed by them, coming with a detachment of soldiers, I rescued, 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 ULT And wanting to know the charge with which they were accusing him, I took him down to their Sanhedrin, BSB BSB: and since I wanted to understand their charges against him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin.
29 ULT whom I found being accused about questions of their law but having no accusation worthy of death or chains. BSB BSB: I found that the accusation involved questions about their own law, but there was no charge worthy of death or imprisonment.
30 ULT And when a plot that was to be against the man was revealed to me, immediately I sent him to you, also commanding the accusers to speak against him to you.” 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 ULT So the soldiers, according to the thing having been commanded to 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 ULT And on the next day they returned to the fortress, allowing the horsemen to go away with him, BSB BSB: The next day they returned to the barracks and let the horsemen go on with him.
34 ULT And having read the letter and having asked what province he was from and having 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 ULT he said,“I will hear you fully when your accusers may also come,” commanding him to be guarded in the palace of Herod. 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.