English Bible Presentation Sharing - Acts Book, chapter 23, verse 5 in Hcsb Version

Acts 23 : 1 (HCSB)

Paul looked intently at the Sanhedrin and said, "Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience until this day."

Acts 23 : 2 (HCSB)

But the high priest Ananias ordered those who were standing next to him to strike him on the mouth.

Acts 23 : 3 (HCSB)

Then Paul said to him, "God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! You are sitting there judging me according to the law, and in violation of the law are you ordering me to be struck?"

Acts 23 : 4 (HCSB)

And those standing nearby said, "Do you dare revile God's high priest?"

Acts 23 : 5 (HCSB)

"I did not know, brothers," Paul said, "that it was the high priest. For it is written, You must not speak evil of a ruler of your people."

Acts 23 : 6 (HCSB)

When Paul realized that one part of them were Sadducees and the other part were Pharisees, he cried out in the Sanhedrin, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees! I am being judged because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead!"

Acts 23 : 7 (HCSB)

When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.

Acts 23 : 8 (HCSB)

For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, and no angel or spirit, but the Pharisees affirm them all.

Acts 23 : 9 (HCSB)

The shouting grew loud, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees' party got up and argued vehemently: "We find nothing evil in this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?"

Acts 23 : 10 (HCSB)

When the dispute became violent, the commander feared that Paul might be torn apart by them and ordered the troops to go down, rescue him from them, and bring him into the barracks.

Acts 23 : 11 (HCSB)

The following night, the Lord stood by him and said, "Have courage! For as you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome."

Acts 23 : 12 (HCSB)

When it was day, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under a curse: neither to eat nor to drink until they had killed Paul.

Acts 23 : 13 (HCSB)

There were more than 40 who had formed this plot.

Acts 23 : 14 (HCSB)

These men went to the chief priests and elders and said, "We have bound ourselves under a solemn curse that we won't eat anything until we have killed Paul.

Acts 23 : 15 (HCSB)

So now you, along with the Sanhedrin, make a request to the commander that he bring him down to you as if you were going to investigate his case more thoroughly. However, before he gets near, we are ready to kill him."

Acts 23 : 16 (HCSB)

But the son of Paul's sister, hearing about their ambush, came and entered the barracks and reported it to Paul.

Acts 23 : 17 (HCSB)

Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, "Take this young man to the commander, because he has something to report to him."

Acts 23 : 18 (HCSB)

So he took him, brought him to the commander, and said, "The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, because he has something to tell you."

Acts 23 : 19 (HCSB)

Then the commander took him by the hand, led him aside, and inquired privately, "What is it you have to report to me?"

Acts 23 : 20 (HCSB)

"The Jews," he said, "have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the Sanhedrin tomorrow, as though they are going to hold a somewhat more careful inquiry about him.

Acts 23 : 21 (HCSB)

Don't let them persuade you, because there are more than 40 of them arranging to ambush him, men who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they kill him. Now they are ready, waiting for a commitment from you."

Acts 23 : 22 (HCSB)

So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, "Don't tell anyone that you have informed me about this."

Acts 23 : 23 (HCSB)

He summoned two of his centurions and said, "Get 200 soldiers ready with 70 cavalry and 200 spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight.

Acts 23 : 24 (HCSB)

Also provide mounts so they can put Paul on them and bring him safely to Felix the governor."

Acts 23 : 25 (HCSB)

He wrote a letter of this kind:

Acts 23 : 26 (HCSB)

Claudius Lysias, To the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.

Acts 23 : 27 (HCSB)

When this man had been seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, I arrived with my troops and rescued him because I learned that he is a Roman citizen.

Acts 23 : 28 (HCSB)

Wanting to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down before their Sanhedrin.

Acts 23 : 29 (HCSB)

I found out that the accusations were about disputed matters in their law, and that there was no charge that merited death or chains.

Acts 23 : 30 (HCSB)

When I was informed that there was a plot against the man, I sent him to you right away. I also ordered his accusers to state their case against him in your presence.

Acts 23 : 31 (HCSB)

Therefore, during the night, the soldiers took Paul and brought him to Antipatris as they were ordered.

Acts 23 : 32 (HCSB)

The next day, they returned to the barracks, allowing the cavalry to go on with him.

Acts 23 : 33 (HCSB)

When these men entered Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.

Acts 23 : 34 (HCSB)

After he read it, he asked what province he was from. So when he learned he was from Cilicia,

Acts 23 : 35 (HCSB)

he said, "I will give you a hearing whenever your accusers get here too." And he ordered that he be kept under guard in Herod's palace.