1 But Paul, having looked intently at the council, said, “Men, brothers, I have conducted myself with all good conscience {syneidesis: moral awareness} before God {Theos, Supreme Witness} until this very day.”
2 But the high priest Ananias {archiereus: chief religious official} ordered those standing near him to strike him on the mouth {stoma: physical speech organ}.
3 Then Paul said to him, “God {Theos, Righteous Judge} is about to strike you, you whitewashed wall {toichos kekoniamenos: hypocritical facade}. You are sitting to judge me according to the law, and while breaking the law you command me to be struck.”
4 But those who were standing by said, “Are you insulting the high priest of God {Theos, One Represented Here}?” insulting {loidoreis: verbal abuse}
5 And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler {archonta: leading official} of your people {laos: covenant community}.’”
6 But when Paul {Paulos: Jewish witness} perceived that one part was Sadducees {Saddoukaioi: priestly aristocrats} and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men, brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead that I am being judged.”
7 But as he was saying this, a dissension {stasis: sharp conflict} arose between the Pharisees {pharisaion: strict religious group} and Sadducees, and the crowd was divided.
8 For the Sadducees {Saddoukaioi: priestly faction} indeed say there is no resurrection, neither angel nor spirit; but the Pharisees {Pharisaioi: Torah-focused party} acknowledge them both.
9 And there arose a great uproar {krauge: loud outcry}, and some of the scribes of the party of the Pharisees stood up and were contending, saying, “We find nothing evil in this man; but what if a spirit {pneuma: unseen being} has spoken to him, or an angel?”
10 But when a great dissension {stasis: heated conflict} was taking place, the tribune {chiliarchos: Roman military commander} became afraid that Paul might be torn apart by them, and he commanded the soldiers to go down, seize him out of their midst, and bring him into the barracks.
11 But on the following night the Lord {Kyrios, Assuring Guide} stood by him and said, “Take courage, for just as you have solemnly testified about Me {Iesous, One Proclaimed} in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”
12 But when day had come, the Jews {Ioudaioi: certain local opponents}, having formed a conspiracy, bound themselves under a curse {anethematizan: self imposed ban}, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.
13 But there were more {pleious: larger group} than forty who had formed this conspiracy {synomosia: sworn plot}.
14 Those who had approached the chief priests and the elders said, “With a curse {anathema: solemn ban} we have bound ourselves not to taste {geuomai: take any food} anything until we have killed Paul.”
15 Now therefore, you, together with the council, make it known to the commander {chiliarchos: high-ranking Roman officer} so that he may bring him down to you, as though you are about to examine more precisely the matters concerning him. But we are ready, before he comes near, to kill him {anelein: remove violently}.
16 But when the son of Paul's {Paulou: Paul's} sister heard of the ambush {enedra: concealed attack}, having arrived and having entered into the barracks, he reported it to Paul.
17 But Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, “Take this young man {neanias: young adult male} to the commander {chiliarchos: Roman military tribune}, for he has something to report to him.”
18 So then, the one who had taken him brought him to the tribune {chiliarchos: Roman officer} and said, “Paul the prisoner called me and asked me to bring this young man {neanias: adolescent male} to you, for he has something to say to you.”
19 Then the commander {chiliarchos: Roman tribune} took him by the hand {cheir: respectful gesture} and, after withdrawing privately, began to ask, “What is it that you have to declare to me?”
20 He said, “The Jews have conspired {synethento: plotted together} to ask you to bring Paul down to the council {synedrion: Jewish high court} tomorrow, as though they are about to inquire something more accurately concerning him.”
21 Therefore you must not be persuaded by them, for more than forty men from among them are lying in wait {enedreuousin: hidden ambush} for him, who have bound themselves with an oath neither to eat nor to drink until they have killed him; and now they are ready, awaiting the promise from you {epangelia: formal commitment}.
22 So the tribune {khiliarkhos: Roman cohort commander} released the young man, after instructing {parangeilas: giving strict orders} him to tell no one that you have made these things known to me.
23 And after calling for two of the centurions {hekatontarchon: Roman officers over a hundred men}, he said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers so that they may go as far as Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen {dexiolabous: picked troops with spears} from the third hour of the night.”
24 And to provide mounts {ktene: riding animals}, so that, having placed Paul on them, they might bring him safely to Felix the governor {hegemon: provincial ruler}.
25 Having written a letter {epistolen: formal document} having this pattern {tupon: set wording}:
26 Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor {hegemon: provincial ruler} Felix, greetings {chairein: formal goodwill wish}.
27 This man, having been seized {syllambano: forcibly arrested} by the Jews and being about to be killed by them, I came with the army and rescued him, having learned that he is a Roman citizen {Rhomaios: legal citizen}.
28 And wanting to know exactly the charge {aitia: formal accusation} for which they were accusing him, I brought him down into their council {synedrion: judicial assembly}.
29 Whom I found being accused concerning questions {zetematon: legal disputes} about their law, but having no charge worthy of death or imprisonment {desmon: serious confinement}.
30 But when it was disclosed to me that there would be a plot {epiboule: secret scheme} against the man, I sent him to you at once, having also instructed the accusers {kategoroi: formal complainants} to state what they have against him before you.
31 So the soldiers, according to the orders {diatetagmenon: previously given command} to them, after taking Paul {analabontes: taking into custody}, brought him by night to Antipatris.
32 But on the next day {epaurion: following morning}, having allowed the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to the camp {parembole: Roman garrison}.
33 When they had entered Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor {hegemon: Roman provincial ruler}, they also presented Paul {Paulos: entrusted prisoner} to him.
34 And after reading the letter, and asking from which province {eparcheia: Roman administrative district} he was, and learning that he was from Cilicia {Kilikia: southeast Asia Minor},
35 “I will hear {diakousomai: conduct legal hearing} you,” he said, “when your accusers also arrive.” Then he ordered that he be kept in Herod’s praetorium {praitorion: governor’s official residence}.