v.1-5
Paul's conflict with the high priest
v.6-11
The Sanhedrin is divided over Paul
v.12-22
The Plot to Kill Paul
v.23-35
Paul Transferred to Caesarea
v.1-5
Paul's conflict with the high priest
v.1
Paul
looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have
fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.”
v.2
At
this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul
to strike him on the mouth.
v.3
Then
Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall!
You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself
violate the law by commanding that I be struck!”
v.4
Those
who were standing near Paul said, “How dare you insult God's high
priest!”
v.5
Paul
replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest;
for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your
people.' [Exo 22:28]
”
[Passage
Synopsis: Paul
is struck on command of the high priest.]
v.6-11
The Sanhedrin is divided over Paul
v.6
Then
Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others
Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee,
descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope
of the resurrection of the dead.”
v.7
When
he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the
Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.
v.8
(The
Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are
neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these
things.)
v.9
There
was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were
Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. “We find nothing wrong
with this man,” they said. “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken
to him?”
v.10
The
dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would
be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and
take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.
v.11
The
following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take
courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must
also testify in Rome.”
[Passage
Synopsis: Paul
appeals to the Pharisees and causes division in the council. The
commander sees the violent feelings and takes him into the barracks
again. The Lord comes and reassures him.]
v.12-22
The Plot to Kill Paul
v.12
The
next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves
with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
v.13
More
than forty men were involved in this plot.
v.14
They
went to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have taken
a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.
v.15
Now
then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him
before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information
about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.”
v.16
But
when the son of Paul's sister heard of this plot, he went into
the barracks and told Paul.
v.17
Then
Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man
to the commander; he has something to tell him.”
v.18
So
he took him to the commander. The centurion said, “Paul, the prisoner,
sent for me and asked me to bring this young man to you because
he has something to tell you.”
v.19
The
commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked,
“What is it you want to tell me?”
v.20
He
said: “Some Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the
Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information
about him.
v.21
Don't
give in to them, because more than forty of them are waiting in
ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until
they have killed him. They are ready now, waiting for your consent
to their request.”
v.22
The
commander dismissed the young man with this warning: “Don't tell
anyone that you have reported this to me.”
[Passage
Synopsis: The
Lord's encouragement is clearly needed for a plot to assassinate
Paul arises, but news of it is leaked to the commander.]
v.23-35
Paul Transferred to Caesarea
v.23
Then
he called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a
detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred
spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight.
v.24
Provide
horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”
v.25
He
wrote a letter as follows:
v.26
Claudius
Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings.
v.27
This
man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him, but
I came with my troops and rescued him, for I had learned that
he is a Roman citizen.
v.28
I
wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to
their Sanhedrin.
v.29
I
found that the accusation had to do with questions about their
law, but there was no charge against him that deserved death or
imprisonment.
v.30
When
I was informed of a plot to be carried out against the man, I
sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers to present
to you their case against him.
v.31
So
the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul with them during
the night and brought him as far as Antipatris.
v.32
The
next day they let the cavalry go on with him, while they returned
to the barracks.
v.33
When
the cavalry arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to
the governor and handed Paul over to him.
v.34
The
governor read the letter and asked what province he was from.
Learning that he was from Cilicia,
v.35
he
said, “I will hear your case when your accusers get here.” Then
he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod's palace.
[Passage
Synopsis: The
commander arranges for a detachment to take Paul to Caesarea to
the governor, Felix.]