The Concordant Literal New Testament

Acts of the Apostles

The Concordant Version

The King James Version

Chapter 23 (CV)

¹ Now looking intently at the Sanhedrin, Paul said, "Men! Brethren! I, in all good conscience, have used my citizenship for God until this day."
² Now the chief priest Ananias enjoins those standing beside him to beat his mouth.
³ Then Paul said to him, "God is about to beat you, whitewashed wall! And you are sitting to judge me according to the law, and illegally are you ordering me to be beaten!"
⁴ Now those standing by say, "The chief priest of God are you reviling!"
⁵ And Paul averred, "I was not aware, brethren, that he is chief priest. For it is written that, 'Of your people's chief you shall not be declaring evil.'"
⁶ Now Paul, knowing that the one party is of Sadducees, yet the other of Pharisees, cries in the Sanhedrin, "Men! Brethren! A Pharisee, son of Pharisees am I. Concerning the expectation and resurrection of the dead am I being judged."
⁷ Now at his saying this, there came to be a commotion of the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the multitude is rent.
⁸ For Sadducees, indeed, are saying there is no resurrection, nor messenger, nor spirit; yet Pharisees are avowing both.
⁹ Now a great clamor occurred, and, rising, some of the scribes of the party of the Pharisees fought it out with one another, saying, "Nothing evil are we finding in this man. Now if a spirit or messenger speaks to him -- "
¹⁰ Yet, much commotion occurring, being afraid, the captain, so Paul should not be pulled to pieces by them, orders the troop to descend and snatch him out their midst, besides, to lead him into the citadel.
¹¹ Now the ensuing night, standing by him, the Lord said, "Courage! For as you certify to that which concerns Me in Jerusalem, thus you must testify in Rome also."
¹² Now, day coming on, making a conspiracy, the Jews anathematize themselves, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they should kill Paul.
¹³ Now there were more than forty who make this cabal,
¹⁴ who, coming to the chief priests and the elders, say, "With an anathema we anathematize ourselves to taste nothing till we should kill Paul.
¹⁵ Now then, you inform the captain together with the Sanhedrin, so that he may be leading him down to you, as being about to investigate more exactly that which concerns him; yet we, before he draws near, are ready to assassinate him."
¹⁶ Now the son of Paul's sister, hearing of the ambush, coming along and entering into the citadel, reports it to Paul.
¹⁷ Now Paul, calling one of the centurions to him, averred, "Lead this young man away to the captain, for he has something to report to him."
¹⁸ He, indeed, then, taking him along, led him to the captain, and is averring, "The prisoner, Paul, calling me to him, asks me to lead this youth to you, who has something to speak to you."
¹⁹ Now the captain, taking hold of his hand, and retiring privately, inquired to ascertain, "What is it that you have to report to me?"
²⁰ Now he said that "The Jews agreed to ask you, so that you may lead Paul down tomorrow into the Sanhedrin, as being about to ascertain somewhat more exactly concerning him.
²¹ You, then, should not be persuaded by them, for there are ambushing for him more than forty of their men, who anathematize themselves neither to eat nor drink till they may be assassinating him. And now they are ready, anticipating the promise from you."
²² Indeed, then, the captain dismisses the youth, charging him, "To no one speak out that you disclose these things to me."
²³ And calling a certain two of the centurions to him, he said, "Make ready two hundred soldiers, so that they may go as far as Caesarea, and seventy cavalry, and two hundred slingers, from the third hour of the night.
²⁴ Besides, present beasts that, mounting Paul, they should be bringing him safely through to Felix, the governor."
²⁵ He writes a letter having this model:
²⁶ "Claudius Lysias, to the most mighty governor Felix. Rejoice!
²⁷ This man, being apprehended by the Jews, and being about to be assassinated by them, standing by with the troop, I extricate, learning that he is a Roman.
²⁸ Besides, intending to get to know the charge because of which they indicted him, I led him down into their Sanhedrin.
²⁹ Him I found being indicted concerning questions of their law, yet having nothing deserving death or bonds in the indictment.
³⁰ Now at its being divulged to me that there will be a plot against the man, forthwith I send him to you, charging the accusers also to speak against him before you. Farewell."
³¹ The soldiers, indeed, then, according to that which has been prescribed to them, taking up Paul, led him through the night to Antipatris.
³² Now on the morrow, they return into the citadel, leaving the cavalry to come away with him,
³³ who, entering into Caesarea and giving up the letter to the governor, present Paul also to him.
³⁴ Now, reading it, and inquiring of what prefecture he is, and ascertaining that he is from Cilicia,
³⁵ "I shall give you a hearing," he averred, "whenever your accusers also may be coming along," ordering him to be guarded in Herod's pretorium.

Chapter 23 (KJV)

¹ And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
² And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite 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?
⁴ And they that stood by said, Revilest thou 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.
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.
⁷ And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.
⁸ For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.
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.
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.
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.
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.
¹³ And they were more than forty which 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.
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.
¹⁶ And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, 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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
²³ And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, 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.
²⁵ And he wrote a letter after this manner:
²⁶ Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.
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.
²⁸ And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into 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.
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.
³¹ Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, 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:
³³ Who, when they came to Caesarea and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before 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;
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.

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