Paul Appears Before the Sanhedrin - Acts Chapter 23

Paul appears before the Sanhedrin, the conspiracy of the Jews against Paul
1 - And Paul looked upon the counsel, and said, Brethren, to this day have I walked before God with all my good conscience.
2 - And the high priest, Ananias, commanded them that stood by him to smite him in the mouth.
3 - And Paul said unto him, God shall smite thee, a bleached wall; are you sitting here to judge me according to the law, and command me to be harmed against the law?
4 - And they that stood by said, Do you revile the high priest of God?
5 - And Paul said, He knew not, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the prince of thy people.
6 And Paul, knowing that one part was of the Sadducees and the other of the Pharisees, cried out in the council, Men, brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am judged.
7 - And when he had said this, there was a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the multitude divided.
8 - For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees recognize both.
9 - And there was a great cry; and the scribes stood up from the Pharisees, and contended, saying, We find no evil in this man, and if any spirit or an angel spake unto him, let us not strive against God.
10 - And when there was a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing that Paul might be torn to pieces by them, sent down the soldiery, that they might take him out of the midst of them, and bring him into the stronghold.
11 - And the next night the Lord appeared unto him, and said, Paul, be of good cheer; because as you testified of me in Jerusalem, so it is important that you also testify in Rome.

Conspiracy of the Jews against Paul
12 - And when it was day, some of the Jews made a conspiracy, and swore, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they killed Paul.
13 - And there were more than forty that did this conspiracy.
14 - And these went unto the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a curse, that we prove nothing until we have killed Paul.
15 Now therefore, with counsel, beseech the captain to bring him in to morrow, as if he would know more of his business, and before he cometh, we will be ready to slay him.
16 And the son of Paul's sister, when he heard concerning this snare, went and entered into the fortress, and told Paul.
17 - And Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man to the captain, for he hath something to tell him.
18 - And when he had taken him, he brought him to the captain, and said, The prisoner Paul called me to him, and beseeched me to bring this young man that hath something to tell thee.
19 - And the captain took him by the hand, and stood aside, and said privately unto him, What hast thou to tell me?
20 - And he said, The Jews have agreed to beseech thee, that thou bringest Paul to the council tomorrow, as though he were to inquire of him more for sure.
21 - But you do not believe them; for more than forty men among them are lying in wait for him; who undertook, under pain of a curse, not to eat or drink until they have killed him; and they are already aware, expecting from you a promise.
22 - Then the captain sent him away, and told him not to tell anyone that he had told it. Paul sent to Felix
23 - And he called two centurions, and said unto them, Prepare for three o'clock at night two hundred soldiers, and seventy of the cavalry, and two hundred archers to go unto Caesarea;
24 - And set up animals, that they may bring Paul to them, and take him safely to President Felix.
25 And he wrote a letter which contained this:
26 - Claudio Lísias, to Felix, very powerful president, health.
27 - This man was taken by the Jews; and being about to be slain by them, I came upon the soldiery, and delivered him, being informed that he was a Roman.
28 - And when they sought to know the cause of his accusation, I brought him to his counsel.
29 And I thought that they accused him of some matters of his law; but that no crime was there worthy of death or imprisonment.
30 - And it came to pass, when I was told that the Jews should lie in wait for the man, that I sent him to him, and commanded the accusers also to tell what they had against him.

Paul goes through the city of Caesarea
31 - And the soldiers took Paul as he was commanded, and brought him by night unto Antipatris.
32 - And the next day, when they let the mounted ones go with him, they returned to the stronghold.
33 - And when they came to Caesarea, and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented him to Paul.
34 - And the president, he read the letter, asked of what province it was; and knowing that he was from Cilicia,
35 And he said, I will hearken unto thee, when thine accusers shall come also. And he had them kept in the praetorium of Herod.