Acts 23

Division Between Pharisees and Sadducees Acts 23:6–10

⁶Verse 6. But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. Concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!” ⁷Verse 7. When he had said this, an argument arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the crowd was divided. ⁸Verse 8. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess all of these. ⁹Verse 9. A great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ part stood up, and contended, saying, “We find no evil in this man. But if a spirit or angel has spoken to him, let’s not fight against God!”

¹⁰Verse 10. When a great argument arose, the commanding officer, fearing that Paul would be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks.

Divine Assurance to Paul Acts 23:11

¹¹Verse 11. The following night, the Lord stood by him, and said,“Cheer up, Paul, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must testify also at Rome.”

Conspiracy Against Paul Acts 23:12–22

¹²Verse 12. When it was day, some of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. ¹³Verse 13. There were more than forty people who had made this conspiracy. ¹⁴Verse 14. They came to the chief priests and the elders, and said, “We have bound ourselves under a great curse, to taste nothing until we have killed Paul. ¹⁵Verse 15. Now therefore, you with the council inform the commanding officer that he should bring him down to you tomorrow, as though you were going to judge his case more exactly. We are ready to kill him before he comes near.”

¹⁶Verse 16. But Paul’s sister’s son heard they were lying in wait, and he came and entered into the barracks and told Paul. ¹⁷Verse 17. Paul summoned one of the centurions, and said, “Bring this young man to the commanding officer, for he has something to tell him.” ¹⁸Verse 18. So he took him, and brought him to the commanding officer, and said, “Paul, the prisoner, summoned me and asked me to bring this young man to you, who has something to tell you.” ¹⁹Verse 19. The commanding officer took him by the hand, and going aside, asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?”

²⁰Verse 20. He said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though intending to inquire somewhat more accurately concerning him. ²¹Verse 21. Therefore don’t yield to them, for more than forty men lie in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse neither to eat nor to drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, looking for the promise from you.” ²²Verse 22. So the commanding officer let the young man go, charging him, “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.”

Paul's Safe Escort to Caesarea Acts 23:23–35

²³Verse 23. He called to himself two of the centurions, and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, with seventy horsemen, and two hundred men armed with spears, at the third hour of the night.” ²⁴Verse 24. He asked them to provide animals, that they might set Paul on one, and bring him safely to Felix the governor. ²⁵Verse 25. He wrote a letter like this: ²⁶Verse 26. “Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings. ²⁷Verse 27. “This man was seized by the Jews, and was about to be killed by them, when I came with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.

²⁸Verse 28. Desiring to know the cause why they accused him, I brought him down to their council. ²⁹Verse 29. I found him to be accused about questions of their law, but not to be charged with anything worthy of death or of imprisonment. ³⁰Verse 30. When I was told that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him to you immediately, charging his accusers also to bring their accusations against him before you. Farewell.” ³¹Verse 31. So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. ³²Verse 32. But on the next day they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the barracks.

³³Verse 33. When they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. ³⁴Verse 34. When the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. When he understood that he was from Cilicia, he said, ³⁵Verse 35. “I will hear you fully when your accusers also arrive.” He commanded that he be kept in Herod’s palace.