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          DASV: Acts 23    

1 Paul, looking directly at the council, said, "Brothers, I
have lived before God with a clear conscience until this day."
2 Then the high priest Ananias ordered those who stood by Paul
to strike him on the mouth.
3 Then Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed
wall. Do you sit judging me according to the law, and yet
you order me to be struck contrary to the law?"
4 Then those who stood by asked, "How dare you insult God's
high priest?"
5 Paul said, "I didn't realize, brothers, that he was high
priest; for it is written, 'You shall not speak evil of a
ruler of your people.'"
6 But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the
other Pharisees, he shouted out in the council, "Brothers,
I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am being put on trial
because of the hope and resurrection of the dead."
7 When he had said this, there arose a dissension between the
Pharisees and Sadducees; and the assembly was split.
8 For the Sadducees claim that there is no resurrection, angels,
or spirits; but the Pharisees acknowledge all of them.
9 There arose a great uproar with some of the legal scholars
on the Pharisees' side standing and arguing, "We find nothing
wrong with this man. What if a spirit or angel actually has
spoken to him?"
10 When the dissension grew violent, the chief commander,
fearing that Paul would be torn in pieces by them, ordered
the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among
them, and bring him into the barracks.

11 That night the Lord stood by him, and said, "Take courage
for as you have testified concerning me in Jerusalem, so
must you bear witness also in Rome."
12 At day break, the Jews banded together, and bound
themselves with a curse, saying that they would neither
eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
13 There were more than forty who joined in this conspiracy.
14 They came to the chief priests and the elders, and announced,
"We have bound ourselves with a great curse, to taste no
food until we have killed Paul.
15 Now therefore the council should request the chief commander
that he bring Paul down to you, under the pretext that you
would like to examine his case more thoroughly. Then
before he gets near here, we will kill him."
16 But Paul's sister's son heard of their ambush, and he
came, entered the barracks and told Paul.
17 Paul then called to one of the centurions, and requested,
"Bring this young man to the chief commander for he has
something to tell him."
18 So he took him and brought him to the chief commander, and
said, "The prisoner Paul called me, and asked me to bring
this young man to you. He has something to tell you."
19 So the chief commander took him by the hand, and drew
him aside and asked him privately, "What is it you have
to tell me?"
20 He said, "The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul
down tomorrow to the council, as though they would
inquire more thoroughly concerning him.
21 Do not be persuaded by them, for they have set an ambush
for him with more than forty men, who have bound themselves
by a curse, neither to eat or to drink until they have
killed him. They are ready now, expecting you will
grant their request."
22 So the chief commander let the young man go, charging
him, "Don't tell anyone that you have informed me of
these things."

23 He summoned two centurions, and said, "Get 200 soldiers
ready to go as far as Caesarea, along with 70 horsemen,
and 200 spearmen, at nine o'clock tonight."
24 Also provide mounts for Paul to ride, and bring him
safely to Felix the governor."

25 He wrote a letter like this:
26 "Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency Governor Felix,
greeting.
27 This man was seized by the Jews, and was about to be
killed by them, when I arrived with my troops and
rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman
citizen.
28 Because I wanted to know the charge they were accusing
him with, I brought him down to their council.
29 I found out that he was accused regarding questions
about their law, but he was charged with nothing worthy
of death or imprisonment.
30 When I was informed that there was a plot against the
man, I sent him to you at once, directing his
accusers also to make their accusations against him
before you."

31 So the soldiers, according to their orders, took Paul
and brought him by night to Antipatris.
32 But the next day they let the horsemen go on with him,
while they returned to the barracks.
33 After they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter
to the governor, they presented Paul to him.
34 When he had read it, he asked what province he was
from. When he discovered that he was of Cilicia,
35 he said, "I will hear you when your accusers arrive."
He ordered him to be kept in Herod's palace.

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