Acts · King James Version (with Apocrypha)
Acts 23 King James Version (with Apocrypha)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men [and] brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
1 Paul, looking steadfastly at the council, said, “Brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience until today.”
2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.
2 The high priest, Ananias, commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.
3 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?
3 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?”
4 And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God’s high priest?
4 Those who stood by said, “Do you malign God’s high priest?”
5 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.
5 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.’”
6 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.
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!”
7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.
7 When he had said this, an argument arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the crowd was divided.
8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.
8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess all of these.
9 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.
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!”
10 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.
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.
11 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.
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.”
12 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.
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.
13 And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.
13 There were more than forty people who had made this conspiracy.
14 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.
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.
15 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.
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.”
16 And when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.
16 But Paul’s sister’s son heard they were lying in wait, and he came and entered into the barracks and told Paul.
17 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.
17 Paul summoned one of the centurions and said, “Bring this young man to the commanding officer, for he has something to tell him.”
18 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.
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. He has something to tell you.”
19 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?
19 The commanding officer took him by the hand, and going aside, asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?”
20 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.
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.
21 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.
21 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.”
22 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.
22 So the commanding officer let the young man go, charging him, “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.”
23 And he called unto [him] two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Cæsarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;
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.”
24 And provide [them] beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring [him] safe unto Felix the governor.
24 He asked them to provide mounts, that they might set Paul on one, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.
25 And he wrote a letter after this manner:
25 He wrote a letter like this:
26 Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix [sendeth] greeting.
26 “Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.
27 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.
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.
28 And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:
28 Desiring to know the cause why they accused him, I brought him down to their council.
29 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.
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.
30 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.
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.”
31 Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought [him] by night to Antipatris.
31 So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.
32 On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:
32 But on the next day they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the barracks.
33 Who, when they came to Cæsarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.
33 When they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.
34 And when the governor had read [the letter], he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that [he was] of Cilicia;
34 When the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. When he understood that he was from Cilicia, he said,
35 I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s judgment hall.
35 “I will hear you fully when your accusers also arrive.” He commanded that he be kept in Herod’s palace.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Ananias
The high priest who ordered Paul to be struck on the mouth at his hearing and later went down to Caesarea to accuse him before Felix.
Cited in the guide: Acts 23:2; Acts 24:1
Claudius Lysias
The commander who rescued Paul from the mob at Jerusalem and sent him to the governor Felix at Caesarea with a letter.
Cited in the guide: Acts 23:26
Felix
The governor at Caesarea who heard Paul's case, trembled at his talk of judgment, and kept him in custody hoping for a bribe.
Cited in the guide: Acts 23:24; Acts 24:3; Acts 24:25
Cross references (33)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Acts 24:16; 2 Timothy 1:3; 2 Corinthians 1:12; Hebrews 13:18; 1 Corinthians 4:4
- 2 John 18:22; Acts 24:1; 1 Kings 22:24; Micah 5:1; Matthew 26:67
- 3 Deuteronomy 25:1–2; John 7:51; Matthew 23:27–28; Micah 3:8–11; Amos 5:7
- 5 Exodus 22:28; Ecclesiastes 10:20; Jude 8–9; 2 Peter 2:10
- 6 Acts 24:15; Acts 24:21; Acts 26:5–8; Acts 28:20; Philippians 3:5
- 7 Acts 14:4; John 7:40–43; Matthew 10:34; Psalm 55:9
- 8 Luke 20:27; Matthew 22:23; Mark 12:18; Acts 4:1
- 9 Acts 22:7; Acts 22:17–18; John 12:29; Acts 25:25; Proverbs 16:7
- 10 Acts 22:24; James 1:19; James 3:14–4:2; Acts 23:32; Micah 3:3
- 11 Acts 18:9; 2 Timothy 4:17; Matthew 14:27; Jeremiah 15:19–21; Acts 19:21
- 12 Acts 23:30; Isaiah 8:9–10; Acts 23:21; Acts 23:14; Psalm 2:1–3
- 13 John 16:2; 2 Samuel 15:12; 2 Samuel 15:31
- 14 Acts 23:12; Jeremiah 8:12; Micah 7:3; Hosea 4:9; Psalm 52:1–2
- 15 Isaiah 59:7; Psalm 37:32–33; Proverbs 1:16; Proverbs 1:11–12; Psalm 21:11
- 16 1 Corinthians 3:19; Acts 23:10; Proverbs 21:30; Acts 23:32; Job 5:13
- 17 Proverbs 22:3; Matthew 8:8–9; Acts 22:26; Acts 23:23; Matthew 10:16
- 18 Ephesians 3:1; Ephesians 4:1; Acts 28:17; Philemon 9; Acts 16:25
- 19 Nehemiah 2:4; Esther 9:12; Esther 5:3; Mark 9:27; Esther 7:2
- 20 Acts 23:14–15; Daniel 6:5–12; Psalm 12:2; Acts 23:1
- 21 Acts 23:12–14; Exodus 23:2; Acts 20:19; Acts 9:23–24; 2 Corinthians 11:26
- 22 Joshua 2:14; Mark 1:44
- 23 Acts 8:40; Luke 12:38; Matthew 14:25; Acts 23:33
- 24 Acts 23:26; Acts 25:14; Acts 24:10; Acts 23:33–24:3; Acts 24:22–27
- 26 Acts 15:23; Acts 26:25; Luke 1:3; Acts 24:3; James 1:1
- 27 Acts 22:25–29; Acts 21:31–33; Acts 23:10; Acts 24:6
- 28 Acts 22:30
- 29 Acts 26:31; Acts 25:25; Acts 18:15; Acts 25:11; Acts 25:19–20
- 30 Acts 24:6–8; Acts 25:16; Acts 24:19; Acts 23:35; Acts 23:20
- 31 Acts 23:23–24; 2 Timothy 2:3–4; Luke 7:8
- 32 Acts 23:23; Acts 23:10
- 33 Acts 23:26; Acts 28:16; Acts 8:40; Acts 23:23–24
- 34 Acts 21:39; Acts 25:1; Esther 1:1; Esther 8:9; Daniel 6:1
- 35 Acts 23:30; Acts 25:16; Matthew 27:27; Matthew 2:16; Acts 24:22
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
Again he discourses simply as man, and he does not on all occasions alike enjoy the benefit of supernatural aid. "I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee:" both in this, and in what comes after it, he wished to divide the multitude, which had an evil unanimity against him.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 11 (1889)
… belonged to humility he wonderfully preserved, when, on its being said to him, "Revilest thou the high priest?" he replied, "I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, Thou shall not speak evil of the ruler of thy people." And here he showed with what calmness he had spoken that which he seemed to …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
A sect of the Jews dif ferent from the Pharisees, and much worse than they, who said, "that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit." For these were some of a grosser sort, and eager after the things of the body.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
Wherefore Paul also saith, "I am a Pharisee, of the strictest sect amongst us." And they say nothing indeed directly about a resurrection; but they feign a story, and make up a case, which, as I suppose, never so much as had an existence; thinking to drive Him to perplexity, and desiring to overthrow both things, both the existence of …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)