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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>Acts 23 Amplified Bible</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/acts/23.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/acts/23-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">AMP</a> > Acts 23</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="../menu.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../acts/22.htm" title="Acts 22">◄</a> Acts 23 <a href="../acts/24.htm" title="Acts 24">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">Amplified Bible</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/nas/esv/acts/23.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Verses"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><p class="hdg">Paul before the Council</p><p><span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/23-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>Then Paul, looking intently at the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court), said, “Kinsmen, I have lived my life before God with a perfectly good conscience until this very day.” <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/23-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>[At this] the high priest <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[a]</a></span>Ananias ordered those who stood beside him to strike Paul on the mouth. <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/23-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[b]</a></span>whitewashed wall! Do you actually sit to judge me according to the Law, and yet in violation of the Law order me to be struck?” <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/23-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>But those who stood near Paul said, “Are you insulting the high priest of God?” <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/23-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>Paul said, “I was not aware, brothers, that he was <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[c]</a></span>high priest; for it is written, ‘YOU SHALL NOT SPEAK EVIL OF A RULER OF YOUR PEOPLE.’” <p class="paragraph"><span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/23-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>But recognizing that one group were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, Paul <i>began</i> affirming loudly in the Council <i>chamber,</i> “Kinsmen, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!” <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/23-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>When he said this, an angry dispute erupted between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the [whole crowded] assembly was divided [into two factions]. <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/23-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>For the Sadducees say that there is no [such thing as a] resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees [speak out freely and] acknowledge [their belief in] them all. <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/23-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>Then a great uproar occurred, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ party stood up and <i>began</i> to argue heatedly [in Paul’s favor], saying, “We find nothing wrong with this man; suppose a spirit or an angel has [really] spoken to him?” <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/23-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>And as the dissension became even greater, the commander, fearing that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, ordered the troops to go down and forcibly take him from them, and bring him to the barracks. <p class="paragraph"><span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/23-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>On the following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Be brave; for as you have solemnly <i>and</i> faithfully witnessed about Me at Jerusalem, so you must also testify at Rome.” <p class="hdg">A Conspiracy to Kill Paul</p><p class="paragraph"><span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/23-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>Now when day came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under an oath (curse), saying that they would not eat or drink until they had killed Paul. <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/23-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>There were more than forty [men] who formed this plot [and swore this oath]. <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/23-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves under a solemn oath not to taste anything [neither food nor drink] until we have killed Paul. <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/23-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>So now you, along with the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court), notify the commander to bring Paul down to you, as if you were going to investigate his case more thoroughly. But we are ready to kill him before he comes near [the place].” <p class="paragraph"><span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/23-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>But the son of Paul’s sister heard of their [planned] ambush, and he went to the barracks and told Paul. <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/23-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>Then Paul, calling in one of the centurions, said, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to tell him.” <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/23-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>So he took him and led him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner called for me and asked me to bring this young man to you, because he has something to tell you.” <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/23-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>The commander took him by the hand and stepping aside, <i>began</i> to ask him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?” <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/23-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) tomorrow, as if they were going to interrogate him more thoroughly. <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/23-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>But do not listen to them, for more than forty of them are lying in wait for him, and they have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. Even now they are ready, just waiting for your promise.” <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/23-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>So the commander let the young man leave, instructing him, “Do not tell anyone that you have given me this information.” <p class="hdg">Paul Moved to Caesarea Maritima</p><span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/23-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>Then summoning two of the centurions, he said, “Have two hundred soldiers ready by the third hour of the night (9:00 p.m.) to go as far as <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[d]</a></span>Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[e]</a></span>spearmen; <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/23-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>also provide mounts for Paul to ride, and bring him safely to <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[f]</a></span>Felix the governor.” <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/23-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>And [after instructing the centurions] he wrote a letter to this effect: <p class="paragraph"><span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/23-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span><p class="tab1">“Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix, greetings. <p class="paragraph"><span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/23-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span><p class="tab1">This man was seized [as a prisoner] by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, when I came upon him with the troops and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen. <poetry><span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/23-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span><p class="tab1">And wanting to know the <i>exact</i> charge which they were making against him, I brought him down to their Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court); <poetry><span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/23-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span><p class="tab1">and I discovered that he was accused in regard to questions <i>and</i> issues in their Law, but [he was] under no accusation that would call for the penalty of death or [even] for imprisonment. <p class="paragraph"><span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/23-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span><p class="tab1">When I was told that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you immediately, also directing his accusers to bring their charges against him before you.” <p class="paragraph"><span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/23-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>So the soldiers, in compliance with their orders, took Paul and brought him to Antipatris during the night. <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/23-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span>And the next day, leaving the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to the barracks. <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/23-33.htm"><b>33</b></a></span>When these [horsemen] reached Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor, and also presented Paul to him. <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/23-34.htm"><b>34</b></a></span>After reading the letter, he asked which province Paul was from, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia [an imperial province], <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/23-35.htm"><b>35</b></a></span>he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers have arrived,” giving orders that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s Praetorium (the governor’s official residence).<A name="fn"></a></p><br /><br /><span class="footnotesbot">[a]</span> <span class="fnverse">2</span> Ananias served as high priest from A.D. 47-59. He was a violent man who had close ties to Rome and was assassinated by his own people about A.D. 66.<br><span class="footnotesbot">[b]</span> <span class="fnverse">3</span> Paul probably is referring to the outside wall of a tomb, which was considered ritually unclean and polluted. Tombs were usually whitewashed on the outside so that passers-by could see them more clearly and avoid contact with them.<br><span class="footnotesbot">[c]</span> <span class="fnverse">5</span> Under Roman domination, high priests did not serve for life but were replaced from time to time. Paul had not been updated on the current status of the office.<br><span class="footnotesbot">[d]</span> <span class="fnverse">23</span> Caesarea Maritima (Caesarea-on-the-Sea) was a coastal city built by Herod the Great. It was an important city, both politically and militarily, and its harbor was the largest on the eastern Mediterranean coast. It was the capital of Judea, and the official residence of the prefects and procurators (governors) appointed by Rome. Both Pontius Pilate (prefect, A.D. 26-36) and Marcus Antonius Felix (procurator, A.D. 52-60) would have been based here during their respective terms of office.<br><span class="footnotesbot">[e]</span> <span class="fnverse">23</span> Or <i>slingers</i> or <i>bowmen</i>.<br><span class="footnotesbot">[f]</span> <span class="fnverse">24</span> Marcus Antonius Felix was appointed by Emperor Claudius and served as procurator (governor) of Judea from A.D. 52-60.<br></div><br /><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">Amplified Bible Copyright © 2015<br>by The Lockman Foundation<br>All rights reserved <a href="http://www.lockman.org">www.lockman.org</a><br><br><a href="/">Bible Hub</a><br>                                                                                                                                <span class="p"><br /><br /></span></div></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../acts/22.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Acts 22"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Acts 22" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../acts/24.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Acts 24"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Acts 24" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div align="center"><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhchapnoad.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>