The Acts of the Apostles

⭑ Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 23 -

And Paul looking upon the council, said: Men, brethren, I have conversed with all good conscience before God until this present day.

And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to strike him on the mouth.

Then Paul said to him: God shall strike thee, thou whited wall. For sittest thou to judge me according to the law, and contrary to the law commandest me to be struck?

And they that stood by said: Dost thou revile the high priest of God?

And Paul said: I knew not, brethren, that he is the high priest. For it is written: Thou shalt not speak evil of the prince of thy people.

And Paul knowing that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, cried out in the council: Men, brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees: concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the multitude was divided.

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

And there arose a great cry. And some of the Pharisees rising up, strove, saying: We find no evil in this man. What if a spirit hath spoken to him, or an angel?

And when there arose a great dissension, the tribune fearing lest Paul should be pulled in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.

And the night following the Lord standing by him, said: Be constant; for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

The Plot to Kill Paul

(John 16:1–4)

And when day was come, some of the Jews gathered together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying, that they would neither eat, nor drink, till they killed Paul.

And they were more than forty men that had made this conspiracy.

Who came to the chief priests and the ancients, and said: We have bound ourselves under a great curse that we will eat nothing till we have slain Paul.

Now therefore do you with the council signify to the tribune, that he bring him forth to you, as if you meant to know something more certain touching him. And we, before he come near, are ready to kill him.

Which when Paul’s sister’s son had heard, of their lying in wait, he came and entered into the castle and told Paul.

And Paul, calling to him one of the centurions, said: Bring this young man to the tribune, for he hath some thing to tell him.

And he taking him, brought him to the tribune, and said: Paul, the prisoner, desired me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath some thing to say to thee.

And the tribune taking him by the hand, went aside with him privately, and asked him: What is it that thou hast to tell me?

And he said: The Jews have agreed to desire thee, that thou wouldst bring forth Paul tomorrow into the council, as if they meant to inquire some thing more certain touching him.

But do not thou give credit to them; for there lie in wait for him more than forty men of them, who have bound themselves by oath neither to eat, nor to drink, till they have killed him: and they are now ready, looking for a promise from thee.

The tribune therefore dismissed the young man, charging him that he should tell no man, that he had made known these things unto him.

Paul Sent to Felix

Then having called two centurions, he said to them: Make ready two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen for the third hour of the night:

And provide beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe to Felix the governor.

(For he feared lest perhaps the Jews might take him away by force and kill him, and he should afterwards be slandered, as if he was to take money.) And he wrote a letter after this manner:

Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor, Felix, greeting.

This man being taken by the Jews, and ready to be killed by them, I rescued coming in with an army, understanding that he is a Roman:

And meaning to know the cause which they objected unto him, I brought him forth into their council.

Whom I found to be accused concerning questions of their law; but having nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bands.

And when I was told of ambushes that they had prepared for him, I sent him to thee, signifying also to his accusers to plead before thee. Farewell.

Then the soldiers, according as it was commanded them, taking Paul, brought him by night to Antipatris.

And the next day, leaving the horsemen to go with him, they returned to the castle.

Who, when they were come to Caesarea, and had delivered the letter to the governor, did also present Paul before him.

And when he had read it, and had asked of what province he was, and understood that he was of Cilicia;

I will hear thee, said he, when thy accusers come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s judgment hall.

Paul, looking steadfastly at the council, said, “Brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience until today.”

The high priest, Ananias, commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.

Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to judge me according to the law, and command me to be struck contrary to the law?”

Those who stood by said, “Do you malign God’s high priest?”

Paul said, “I didn’t know, brothers, that he was high priest. For it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”(a)

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!”

When he had said this, an argument arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the crowd was divided.

For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess all of these.

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!”

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.

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.”

The Plot to Kill Paul

(John 16:1–4)

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.

There were more than forty people who had made this conspiracy.

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.

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.”

But Paul’s sister’s son heard they were lying in wait, and he came and entered into the barracks and told Paul.

Paul summoned one of the centurions and said, “Bring this young man to the commanding officer, for he has something to tell him.”

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. He has something to tell you.”

The commanding officer took him by the hand, and going aside, asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?”

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.

Therefore don’t yield to them, for more than forty men lie in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse to neither eat nor drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, looking for the promise from you.”

So the commanding officer let the young man go, charging him, “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.”

Paul Sent to Felix

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.”(b)

He asked them to provide mounts, that they might set Paul on one, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.

He wrote a letter like this:

“Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.

“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.

Desiring to know the cause why they accused him, I brought him down to their council.

I found him to be accused about questions of their law, but not to be charged with anything worthy of death or of imprisonment.

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.”

So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.

But on the next day they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the barracks.

When they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.

When the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. When he understood that he was from Cilicia, he said,

“I will hear you fully when your accusers also arrive.” He commanded that he be kept in Herod’s palace.

Footnotes

(a)23:5 ℘ Exodus 22:28

(b)23:23 about 9:00 p.m.