Acts 23
Paul stood before the council and defended himself, but was ordered to be struck by the high priest Ananias, prompting Paul to rebuke him. Paul then revealed he was a Pharisee and was being judged over the hope and resurrection of the dead, causing a division between the Pharisees and Sadducees. The Lord appeared to Paul and told him to be constant, as he would testify in Rome. A group of Jews plotted to kill Paul, but his nephew discovered their plan and informed the tribune, who then sent Paul to Caesarea under heavy guard to be kept in the praetorium of Herod.
Then Paul, gazing intently at the council, said, "Noble brothers, I have spoken with all good conscience before God, even to this present day.And the high priest, Ananias, instructed those who were standing nearby to strike him on the mouthThen Paul said to him: "God shall strike you, you whitewashed wall! For would you sit and judge me according to the law, when, contrary to the law, you order me to be struck?And those who were standing nearby said, "Are you speaking evil about the high priest of God?And Paul said: "I did not know, brothers, that he is the high priest. For it is written: ‘You shall not speak evil of the leader of your people.’ Now Paul, knowing that one group were Sadducees and the other were Pharisees, exclaimed in the council: "Noble brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees! It is over the hope and resurrection of the dead that I am being judged.And when he had said this, a dissension occurred between the Pharisees and the Sadducees. And the multitude was dividedFor the Sadducees claim that there is no resurrection, and neither angels, nor spirits. But the Pharisees confess both of theseThen there occurred a great clamor. And some of the Pharisees, rising up, were fighting, saying: "We find nothing evil in this man. What if a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel?And since a great dissension had been made, the tribune, fearing that Paul might be torn apart by them, ordered the soldiers to descend and to seize him from their midst, and to bring him into the fortressThen, on the following night, the Lord stood near him and said: "Be constant. For just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so also it is necessary for you to testify at Rome.And when daylight arrived, some of the Jews gathered together and bound themselves with an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed PaulNow there were more than forty men who had taken this oath togetherAnd they approached the leaders of the priests, and the elders, and they said: "We have sworn ourselves by an oath, so that we will taste nothing, until we have killed PaulTherefore, with the council, you should now give notice to the tribune, so that he may bring him to you, as if you intended to determine something else about him. But before he approaches, we have made preparations to put him to death.But when Paul’s sister’s son had heard of this, about their treachery, he went and entered into the fortress, and he reported it to PaulAnd Paul, calling to him one of the centurions, said: "Lead this young man to the tribune. For he has something to tell him.And indeed, he took him and led him to the tribune, and he said, "Paul, the prisoner, asked me to lead this young man to you, since he has something to say to you.Then the tribune, taking him by the hand, withdrew with him by themselves, and he asked him: "What is it that you have to tell me?Then he said: "The Jews have met to ask you to bring Paul tomorrow to the council, as if they intended to question him about something elseBut truly, you should not believe them, for they would ambush him with more than forty men from among them, who have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat, nor to drink, until they have put him to death. And they are now prepared, hoping for an affirmation from you.And then the tribune dismissed the young man, instructing him not to tell anyone that he had made known these things to himThen, having called two centurions, he said to them: "Prepare two hundred soldiers, so that they may go as far as Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen, for the third hour of the nightAnd prepare beasts of burden to carry Paul, so that they may lead him safely to Felix, the governor.For he was afraid, lest perhaps the Jews might seize him and kill him, and that afterwards he would be falsely accused, as if he had accepted a bribe. And so he wrote a letter containing the following"Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor, Felix: greetingsThis man, having been apprehended by the Jews and being about to be put to death by them, I rescued, overwhelming them with soldiers, since I realized that he is a RomanAnd wanting to know the reason that they objected to him, I brought him into their councilAnd I discovered him to be accused about questions of their law. Yet truly, nothing deserving of death or imprisonment was within the accusationAnd when I had been given news of ambushes, which they had prepared against him, I sent him to you, notifying his accusers also, so that they may plead their accusations before you. Farewell.Therefore the soldiers, taking Paul according to their orders, brought him by night to AntipatrisAnd the next day, sending the horsemen to go with him, they returned to the fortressAnd when they had arrived at Caesarea and had delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul before himAnd when he had read it and had asked which province he was from, realizing that he was from Cilicia, he said"I will hear you, when your accusers have arrived." And he ordered him to be kept in the praetorium of Herod
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