Acts Chapter 23 KJV

1Paul pleading his integrity is smitten at the command of the high priest, whom he reproveth of injustice. 6By declaring himself a Pharisee, and questioned for the hope of the resurrection, he causeth a division in the council: 10he is carried back to the castle, and encouraged by the Lord in a vision. 12A conspiracy against him is discovered to the chief captain; 23who sendeth him under a guard with a letter to Felix the governor at Caesarea.
1 And Paul, earnestly beholding 1the council, said, 2Men and brethren, 3I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
2 And the high priest 1Ananias commanded them that stood by him 2to smite him on the mouth.
3 Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou 1whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and 2commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?
4 And 1they 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, 1Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.
6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were 1Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, 2I 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 1For 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, 1We find no evil in this man: 2but 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 1And 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, 1and bound themselves aunder a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink 2till they had killed Paul.
13 And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.
14 And they came to the 1chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.
15 1Now 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 2ready to kill him.
16 1And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.
17 1Then 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 1prisoner 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, 1The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into 2the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly.
21 1But do not thou yield unto them: for 2there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves 3with 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 1Caesarea, 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 1the governor.
25 And he wrote a letter after this manner:
26 Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor 1Felix sendeth greeting.
27 1This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, 2having understood that he was a Roman.
28 And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, 1I brought him forth into their council:
29 Whom I perceived to be accused of 1questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge 2worthy of death or of bonds.
30 1And 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 1epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.
34 And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what 1province he was. 2And when he understood that he was of Cilicia;
35 I will hear thee, said he, 1when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall.