Acts 23

About Acts Acts tells how the Holy Spirit came and the good news about Jesus spread from Jerusalem to Rome.

And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.SelectedActs 23:1Ask

And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.SelectedActs 23:2Ask

Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?SelectedActs 23:3Ask

And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God’s high priest?SelectedActs 23:4Ask

Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.SelectedActs 23:5Ask

But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.SelectedActs 23:6Ask

And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.SelectedActs 23:7Ask

For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.SelectedActs 23:8Ask

And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees’ part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.SelectedActs 23:9Ask

And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.SelectedActs 23:10Ask

And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.SelectedActs 23:11Ask

And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.SelectedActs 23:12Ask

And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.SelectedActs 23:13Ask

And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.SelectedActs 23:14Ask

Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.SelectedActs 23:15Ask

And when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.SelectedActs 23:16Ask

Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him.SelectedActs 23:17Ask

So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee.SelectedActs 23:18Ask

Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that thou hast to tell me?SelectedActs 23:19Ask

And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly.SelectedActs 23:20Ask

But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee.SelectedActs 23:21Ask

So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast shewed these things to me.SelectedActs 23:22Ask

And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;SelectedActs 23:23Ask

And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.SelectedActs 23:24Ask

And he wrote a letter after this manner:SelectedActs 23:25Ask

Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.SelectedActs 23:26Ask

This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.SelectedActs 23:27Ask

And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:SelectedActs 23:28Ask

Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.SelectedActs 23:29Ask

And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell.SelectedActs 23:30Ask

Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.SelectedActs 23:31Ask

On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:SelectedActs 23:32Ask

Who, when they came to Caesarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.SelectedActs 23:33Ask

And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia;SelectedActs 23:34Ask

I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s judgment hall.SelectedActs 23:35Ask

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Acts 23

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