Entonces Pablo, mirando fijamente al concilio^1a, dijo: Hermanos^2b, hasta este día yo he vivido delante de Dios con una conciencia perfectamente limpia^3c. 2 Y el sumo sacerdote Ananías^a ordenó a los que estaban junto a él, que lo golpearan^b en la boca. 3 Entonces Pablo le dijo: ¡Dios te golpeará a ti, pared blanqueada^a! ¿Te sientas tú para juzgarme conforme a la ley, y violas la ley ordenando que me golpeen^b? 4 Los que estaban allí observando, dijeron: ¿Al sumo sacerdote de Dios injurias? 5 Y Pablo dijo: No sabía, hermanos, que él era el sumo sacerdote; porque escrito está: NO HABLARAS MAL DE UNA DE LAS AUTORIDADES DE TU PUEBLO^a. 6 Entonces Pablo, dándose cuenta de que una parte eran saduceos y otra fariseos^a, alzó la voz en el concilio^b: Hermanos^1c, yo soy fariseo^d, hijo de fariseos; se me juzga a causa de la esperanza de² la resurrección de los muertos^e. 7 Cuando dijo esto, se produjo un altercado entre los fariseos y los saduceos, y la asamblea se dividió. 8 Porque los saduceos dicen que no hay resurrección^a, ni ángel, ni espíritu, mas los fariseos creen todo esto. 9 Se produjo entonces un gran alboroto; y levantándose algunos de los escribas del grupo de los fariseos^a, discutían acaloradamente, diciendo: No encontramos nada malo en este hombre^b; pero ¿y si un espíritu o un ángel le ha hablado^c? 10 Y al surgir un gran altercado, el comandante¹ tuvo temor de que Pablo fuera despedazado por ellos, y ordenó que las tropas descendieran, lo sacaran de entre ellos a la fuerza y lo llevaran al cuartel^a.

11 A la noche siguiente se le apareció el Señor y le dijo^a: Ten ánimo^b, porque como has testificado fielmente^c de mi causa en Jerusalén^d, así has de testificar también en Roma.

12 Cuando se hizo de día, los judíos tramaron una conspiración^1a y se comprometieron bajo juramento², diciendo que no comerían ni beberían hasta que hubieran matado a Pablo^b. 13 Y los que tramaron esta conjura eran más de cuarenta, 14 los cuales fueron a los principales sacerdotes y a los ancianos y dijeron: Nos hemos comprometido bajo solemne juramento¹ a no probar nada hasta que hayamos matado a Pablo^a. 15 Ahora pues, vosotros y¹ el concilio^a, avisad al comandante para que lo haga comparecer² ante vosotros, como si quisierais hacer una investigación más minuciosa para resolver su caso; nosotros por nuestra parte estamos listos para matarlo antes de que llegue. 16 Pero el hijo de la hermana de Pablo se enteró de la emboscada, y fue y entró¹ al cuartel^a, y dio aviso a Pablo. 17 Y Pablo, llamando a uno de los centuriones, dijo: Lleva a este joven al comandante, porque tiene algo que informarle. 18 El entonces, tomándolo consigo, lo condujo al comandante, y le dijo*: Pablo, el preso^a, me llamó y me pidió que te trajera a este joven, pues tiene algo que decirte. 19 Y el comandante, tomándolo de la mano, y llevándolo aparte, le preguntó: ¿Qué es lo que me tienes que informar? 20 Y él respondió: Los judíos se han puesto de acuerdo en pedirte que mañana lleves a Pablo al concilio^a con el pretexto de hacer una indagación más a fondo sobre él^b. 21 Pero no les prestes atención¹, porque más de cuarenta hombres de ellos, que se han comprometido bajo juramento² a no comer ni beber hasta que lo hayan matado^a, esperan emboscados^b; ya están listos esperando promesa de parte tuya³. 22 Entonces el comandante dejó ir al joven, encomendándole: No digas a nadie que me has informado de estas cosas. 23 Y llamando a dos de los centuriones, dijo: Preparad doscientos soldados para la hora tercera de la noche¹, con² setenta jinetes y doscientos lanceros³, para que vayan a Cesarea^a. 24 Debían preparar también cabalgaduras para Pablo, y llevarlo a salvo al gobernador Félix^a.

25 Y el comandante escribió una carta en estos términos:

31 Así que los soldados, de acuerdo con las órdenes que tenían, tomaron a Pablo y lo llevaron de noche a Antípatris. 32 Y al día siguiente regresaron al cuartel^a dejando que los de a caballo^b siguieran con él, 33 los cuales, después de llegar a Cesarea^a y de entregar la carta al gobernador^b, le presentaron también a Pablo. 34 Cuando el gobernador la leyó, preguntó de qué provincia^a era; y al enterarse de que era de Cilicia^b, 35 dijo: Te oiré cuando estén presentes también tus acusadores^a. Y mandó que lo guardaran^b en el Pretorio¹ de Herodes.

Now looking intently at ^athe ¹Council, Paul said, “^2bBrothers, ^cI have ³lived my life with an entirely good conscience before God up to this day.” 2 But the high priest ^aAnanias commanded those standing beside him ^bto strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, ^ayou whitewashed wall! Do you ^bsit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law, order me to be struck?” 4 But those present said, “Are you insulting God’s high priest?” 5 And Paul said, “I was not aware, brothers, that he is high priest; for it is written: ‘^aYOU SHALL NOT SPEAK EVIL OF A RULER OF YOUR PEOPLE.’”

6 But Paul, perceiving that one group were ^aSadducees and the other Pharisees, began crying out in ^bthe ¹Council, “^2cBrothers, ^dI am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for ^ethe hope and resurrection of the dead!” 7 When he said this, a dissension occurred between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 For ^athe Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. 9 And a great uproar occurred; and some of ^athe scribes of the Pharisaic party stood up and started arguing heatedly, saying, “^bWe find nothing wrong with this man; ^csuppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” 10 And when a great dissension occurred, the commander was afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, and he ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force, and bring him into ^athe barracks.

11 But on ^athe following night, the Lord stood near him and said, “^bBe courageous! For ^cas you have ^dtestified to the truth about Me in Jerusalem, so you must testify in Rome also.”

12 When it was day, ^athe Jews formed a ¹conspiracy and ^bput themselves under an ²oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. 13 There were more than forty who formed this plot. 14 They came to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have ^aput ourselves under an ¹oath to taste nothing until we have killed Paul. 15 Now therefore, you ¹and ^athe ²Council notify the commander to bring him down to you, as though you were going to investigate his case more thoroughly; and as for us, we are ready to kill him before he comes near the place.”

16 But the son of Paul’s sister heard about their ambush, ¹and he came and entered ^athe barracks and told Paul. 17 Paul called one of the centurions to himself and said, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him.” 18 So he took him and led him to the commander and *said, “Paul ^athe prisoner called me over to him and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.” 19 The commander took him by the hand, and stepping aside, began to inquire of him privately, “What is it that you have to report to me?” 20 And he said, “^aThe Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down tomorrow to ^bthe ¹Council, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more thoroughly about him. 21 So do not ¹listen to them, for more than forty ²of them are ^ain hiding to ambush him, and these men have ^bput themselves under an oath not to eat or drink until they kill him; and now they are ready and waiting for assurance from you.” 22 Then the commander let the young man go, instructing him, “Tell no one that you have notified me of these things.”

23 And he called to him two of the centurions and said, “Get two hundred soldiers ready by ¹the third hour of the night to proceed to ^aCaesarea, ²with seventy horsemen and two hundred ³spearmen.” 24 They were also to provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to ^aFelix the governor. 25 And he wrote a letter ¹with the following content:

31 So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 But on the next day they let ^athe horsemen go on with him, and they returned to ^bthe barracks. 33 When these horsemen had come to ^aCaesarea and delivered the letter to ^bthe governor, they also presented Paul to him. 34 Now when he had read it, he also asked from what ^aprovince Paul was, and when he learned that ^bhe was from Cilicia, 35 he said, “I will give you a hearing when your ^aaccusers arrive as well,” giving orders for ¹Paul to be ^bkept in Herod’s ²Praetorium.

Paul, looking intently at ^athe ¹Council, said, “^bBrethren, ^cI have ²lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day.” 2 The high priest ^aAnanias commanded those standing beside him ^bto strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, ^ayou whitewashed wall! Do you ^bsit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law order me to be struck?” 4 But the bystanders said, “Do you revile God’s high priest?” 5 And Paul said, “I was not aware, brethren, that he was high priest; for it is written, ‘^aYOU SHALL NOT SPEAK EVIL OF A RULER OF YOUR PEOPLE.’”

6 But perceiving that one group were ^aSadducees and the other Pharisees, Paul began crying out in ^bthe ¹Council, “^cBrethren, ^dI am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for ^ethe hope and resurrection of the dead!” 7 As he said this, there occurred a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 For ^athe Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. 9 And there occurred a great uproar; and some of ^athe scribes of the Pharisaic party stood up and began to argue heatedly, saying, “^bWe find nothing wrong with this man; ^csuppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” 10 And as a great dissension was developing, the ¹commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them and ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force, and bring him into ^athe barracks.

11 But on ^athe night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, “^bTake courage; for ^cas you have ^dsolemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.”

12 When it was day, ^athe Jews formed a ¹conspiracy and ^bbound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. 13 There were more than forty who formed this plot. 14 They came to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have ^abound ourselves under a solemn oath to taste nothing until we have killed Paul. 15 Now therefore, you ¹and ^athe ²Council notify the ³commander to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case by a more thorough investigation; and we for our part are ready to slay him before he comes near the place.”

16 But the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, ¹and he came and entered ^athe barracks and told Paul. 17 Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, “Lead this young man to the ¹commander, for he has something to report to him.” 18 So he took him and led him to the ¹commander and *said, “Paul ^athe prisoner called me to him and asked me to lead this young man to you since he has something to tell you.” 19 The ¹commander took him by the hand and stepping aside, began to inquire of him privately, “What is it that you have to report to me?” 20 And he said, “^aThe Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down tomorrow to ^bthe ¹Council, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more thoroughly about him. 21 So do not ¹listen to them, for more than forty of them are ^alying in wait for him who have ^bbound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they slay him; and now they are ready and waiting for the promise from you.” 22 So the ¹commander let the young man go, instructing him, “Tell no one that you have notified me of these things.”

23 And he called to him two of the centurions and said, “Get two hundred soldiers ready by ¹the third hour of the night to proceed to ^aCaesarea, ²with seventy horsemen and two hundred ³spearmen.” 24 They were also to provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to ^aFelix the governor. 25 And he wrote a letter having this form:

31 So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 But the next day, leaving ^athe horsemen to go on with him, they returned to ^bthe barracks. 33 When these had come to ^aCaesarea and delivered the letter to ^bthe governor, they also presented Paul to him. 34 When he had read it, he asked from what ^aprovince he was, and when he learned that ^bhe was from Cilicia, 35 he said, “I will give you a hearing after your ^aaccusers arrive also,” giving orders for him to be ^bkept in Herod’s ¹Praetorium.