Now Paul, looking intently at ^athe Sanhedrin, said, “^bBrothers, ^cI have ¹lived my life in all good conscience before God up to this day.” 2 And 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 standing nearby said, “Do you revile the high priest of God?” 5 And Paul said, “I was not aware, brothers, that he was high priest; for it is written, ‘^aYOU SHALL NOT SPEAK EVIL OF A RULER OF YOUR PEOPLE.’”

6 But knowing that one group were ^aSadducees and the other Pharisees, Paul began crying out in ^bthe Sanhedrin, “^cBrothers, ^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 was 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 outcry; 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, because the ¹commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them, he ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force, and bring him into ^athe barracks.

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

12 Now when it was day, ^athe Jews formed a ¹conspiracy and ^bbound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. 13 And there were more than forty who formed this scheme. 14 They came to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have ^abound ourselves under a curse to taste nothing until we have killed Paul. 15 So now you, along with ^athe Sanhedrin, notify the commander to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more carefully; and we for our part are ready to slay him before he comes near.”

16 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, ¹he came and entered ^athe barracks and reported it to Paul. 17 And Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, “Lead this young man to the commander, 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 And 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 Sanhedrin, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more carefully about him. 21 So do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of them—who have ^abound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they slay him—are ^blying in wait for him and now they are ready and waiting for the promise from you.” 22 So the commander let the young man go, instructing him, “Tell no one that you have notified me of these things.”

23 And when he called to him two of the centurions, he said, “Make ready two hundred soldiers, ¹seventy horsemen, and two hundred ²spearmen to proceed to ^aCaesarea by the ³third hour of the night, 24 and 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, according to 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 And 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.

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.