Acts Chapter 23
King James Version (KJV)
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
1
And he said, Into what then were ye baptized? And they said, Into John’s baptism.
2
And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people that they should believe on him that should come after him, that is, on Jesus.
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And when they heard this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
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And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
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And they were in all about twelve men.
6
And he entered into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, reasoning and persuading
7
as to the things concerning the kingdom of God.
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But when some were hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.
9
And this continued for the space of two years; so that all they that dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
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And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
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insomuch that unto the sick were carried away from his body handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out.
12
But certain also of the strolling Jews, exorcists, took upon them to name over them that had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
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And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, a chief priest, who did this.
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And the evil spirit answered and said unto them, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
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And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and mastered both of them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
16
And this became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, that dwelt at Ephesus; and fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
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Many also of them that had believed came, confessing, and declaring their deeds.
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And not a few of them that practised magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all; and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
19
So mightily grew the word of the Lord and prevailed.
20
Now after these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.
21
And having sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.
22
And about that time there arose no small stir concerning the Way.
23
For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no little business unto the craftsmen;
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whom he gathered together, with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this business we have our wealth.
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And ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they are no gods, that are made with hands:
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and not only is there danger that this our trade come into disrepute; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana be made of no account, and that she should even be deposed from her magnificence whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.
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And when they heard this they were filled with wrath, and cried out, saying, Great
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is Diana of the Ephesians.
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And the city was filled with the confusion: and they rushed with one accord into the theatre, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel.
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And when Paul was minded to enter in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.
31
And certain also of the Asiarchs, being his friends, sent unto him and besought him not to adventure himself into the theatre.
32
Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was in confusion; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.
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And they brought Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made a defence unto the people.
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But when they perceived that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great
35
is Diana of the Ephesians.
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
1
And Paul, fixing his eyes on the council, said, Brethren, I have walked in all good conscience withGod unto this day.
2
But the high priest Ananias ordered those standing by him to smite his mouth.
3
Then Paul said to him,God will smite thee, whited wall. And thou, dost thou sit judging me according to the law, and breaking the law commandest me to be smitten?
4
And those that stood by said, Dost thou rail against the high priest ofGod?
5
And Paul said, I was not conscious, brethren, that he was high priest; for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evilly of the ruler of thy people.
6
But Paul, knowing that the one part [of them] were of the Sadducees and the other of the Pharisees, cried out in the council, Brethren, I am a Pharisee, son of Pharisees: I am judged concerning the hope and resurrection of [the] dead.
7
And when he had spoken this, there was a tumult of the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the multitude was divided.
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For Sadducees say there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but Pharisees confess both of them.
9
And there was a great clamour, and the scribes of the Pharisees' part rising up contended, saying, We find nothing evil in this man; and if a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel...
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And a great tumult having arisen, the chiliarch, fearing lest Paul should have been torn in pieces by them, commanded the troop to come down and take him by force from the midst of them, and to bring [him] into the fortress.
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But the following night the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good courage; for as thou hast testified the things concerning me at Jerusalem, so thou must bear witness at Rome also.
12
And when it was day, the Jews, having banded together, put themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they should kill Paul.
13
And they were more than forty who had joined together in this oath;
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and they went to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have cursed ourselves with a curse to taste nothing until we kill Paul.
15
Now therefore do ye with the council make a representation to the chiliarch so that he may bring him down to you, as about to determine more precisely what concerns him, and we, before he draws near, are ready to kill him.
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But Paul's sister's son, having heard of the lying in wait, came and entered into the fortress and reported [it] to Paul.
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And Paul, having called one of the centurions, said, Take this youth to the chiliarch, for he has something to report to him.
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He therefore, having taken him with [him], led him to the chiliarch, and says, The prisoner Paul called me to [him] and asked me to lead this youth to thee, who has something to say to thee.
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And the chiliarch having taken him by the hand, and having gone apart in private, inquired, What is it that thou hast to report to me?
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And he said, The Jews have agreed together to make a request to thee, that thou mayest bring Paul down to-morrow into the council, as about to inquire something more precise concerning him.
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Do not thou then be persuaded by them, for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, who have put themselves under a curse neither to eat nor drink till they kill him; and now they are ready waiting the promise from thee.
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The chiliarch then dismissed the youth, commanding [him], Utter to no one that thou hast represented these things to me.
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And having called to [him] certain two of the centurions, he said, Prepare two hundred soldiers that they may go as far as Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred light-armed footmen, for the third hour of the night.
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And [he ordered them] to provide beasts, that they might set Paul on them and carry [him] safe through to Felix the governor,
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having written a letter, couched in this form:
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Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix, greeting.
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This man, having been taken by the Jews, and being about to be killed by them, I came up with the military and took out [of their hands], having learned that he was a Roman.
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And desiring to know the charge on which they accused him, I brought him down to their council;
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whom I found to be accused of questions of their law, but to have no charge laid against him [making him] worthy of death or of bonds.
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But having received information of a plot about to be put in execution against the man [by the Jews], I have immediately sent him to thee, commanding also his accusers to say before thee the things that are against him. [Farewell.]
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The soldiers therefore, according to what was ordered them, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris,
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and on the morrow, having left the horsemen to go with him, returned to the fortress.
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And these, having entered into Caesarea, and given up the letter to the governor, presented Paul also to him.
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And having read [it], and asked of what eparchy he was, and learned that [he was] of Cilicia,
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he said, I will hear thee fully when thine accusers also are arrived. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's praetorium.
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
1
Intendens autem in concilium Paulus ait: Viri fratres, ego omni conscientia bona conversatus sum ante Deum usque in hodiernum diem.
2
Princeps autem sacerdotum Ananias præcepit astantibus sibi percutere os eius.
3
Tunc Paulus dixit ad eum: Percutiet te Deus, paries dealbate. Et tu sedens iudicas me secundum legem, et contra legem iubes me percuti?
4
Et qui astabant dixerunt: Summum sacerdotem Dei maledicis.
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Dixit autem Paulus: Nesciebam fratres quia princeps est sacerdotum. Scriptum est enim: Principem populi tui non maledices.
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Sciens autem Paulus quia una pars esset Sadducæorum, et altera Pharisæorum, exclamavit in concilio: Viri fratres, ego Pharisæus sum, filius Pharisæorum, de spe et resurrectione mortuorum ego iudicor.
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Et cum hæc dixisset, facta est dissensio inter Pharisæos, et Sadducæos, et soluta est multitudo.
8
Sadducæi enim dicunt, non esse resurrectionem, neque Angelum, neque Spiritum: Pharisæi autem utraque confitentur.
9
Factus est autem clamor magnus. Et surgentes quidam Pharisæorum, pugnabant, dicentes: Nihil mali invenimus in homine isto: quid si Spiritus locutus est ei, aut Angelus?
10
Et cum magna dissensio facta esset, timens tribunus ne discerperetur Paulus ab ipsis, iussit milities descendere, et rapere eum de medio eorum, ac deducere eum in castra.
11
Sequenti autem nocte assistens ei Dominus, ait: Constans esto: sicut enim testificatus es de me in Ierusalem, sic te oportet et Romæ testificari.
12
Facta autem die collegerunt se quidam ex Iudæis, et devoverunt se dicentes, neque manducaturos, neque bibaturos donec occiderent Paulum.
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Erant autem plus quam quadraginta viri, qui hanc coniurationem fecerant:
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qui accesserunt ad principes sacerdotum, et seniores, et dixerunt: Devotione devovimus nos nihil gustaturos, donec occidamus Paulum.
15
Nunc ergo vos notum facite tribuno cum concilio, ut producat illum ad vos, tamquam aliquid certius cognituri de eo. Nos vero prius quam appropiet, parati sumus interficere illum.
16
Quod cum audisset filius sororis Pauli insidias, venit, et intravit in castra, nunciavitque Paulo.
17
Vocans autem Paulus ad se unum ex Centurionibus, ait: Adolescentem hunc perduc ad tribunum, habet enim aliquid indicare illi.
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Et ille quidem assumens eum duxit ad tribunum, et ait: Vinctus Paulus rogavit me hunc adolescentem perducere ad te, habentem aliquid loqui tibi.
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Apprehendens autem tribunus manum illius, secessit cum eo seorsum, et interrogavit illum: Quid est, quod habes indicare mihi?
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Ille autem dixit: Iudæis convenit rogare te, ut crastina die producas Paulum in concilium, quasi aliquid certius inquisituri sint de illo:
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tu vero ne credideris illis, insidiantur enim ei ex eis viri amplius quam quadraginta, qui se devoverunt non manducare, neque bibere donec interficiant eum: et nunc parati sunt, exspectantes promissum tuum.
22
Tribunus igitur dimisit adolescentem, præcipiens ne cui loqueretur quoniam hæc nota sibi fecisset.
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Et vocatis duobus Centurionibus, dixit illis: Parate milites ducentos ut eant usque Cæsaream, et equites septuaginta, et lancearios ducentos a tertia hora noctis:
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et iumenta præparate ut imponentes Paulum, salvum perducerent ad Felicem præsidem,
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(Timuit enim ne forte raperent eum Iudæi, et occiderent, et ipse postea calumniam sustineret, tamquam accepturus pecuniam)
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scribens epistolam continentem hæc: CLAUDIUS Lysias optimo Præsidi, Felici salutem.
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Virum hunc comprehensum a Iudæis, et incipientem interfici ab eis, superveniens cum exercitu eripui, cognito quia Romanus est:
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Volensque scire causam, quam obiiciebant illi, deduxi eum in concilium eorum.
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Quem inveni accusari de quæstionibus legis ipsorum, nihil vero dignum morte aut vinculis habentem criminis.
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Et cum mihi perlatum esset de insidiis, quas paraverant illi, misi eum ad te: denuncians et accusatoribus ut dicant apud te, Vale.
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Milites ergo secundum præceptum sibi, assumentes Paulum, duxerunt per noctem in Antipatridem.
32
Et postera die dimissis equitibus ut cum eo irent, reversi sunt ad castra.
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Qui cum venissent Cæsaream, et tradidissent epistolam præsidi, statuerunt ante illum et Paulum.
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Cum legisset autem, et interrogasset de qua provincia esset: et cognoscens quia de Cilicia,
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Audiam te, inquit, cum accusatores tui venerint. Iussitque in prætorio Herodis custodiri eum.
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
1
Paul, looking steadfastly at the council, said, “Brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience until today.”
2
The high priest, Ananias, commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.
3
Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to judge me according to the law, and command me to be struck contrary to the law?”
4
Those who stood by said, “Do you malign God’s high priest?”
5
Paul said, “I didn’t know, brothers, that he was high priest. For it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”
6
But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. Concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!”
7
When he had said this, an argument arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the crowd was divided.
8
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess all of these.
9
A great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ part stood up, and contended, saying, “We find no evil in this man. But if a spirit or angel has spoken to him, let’s not fight against God!”
10
When a great argument arose, the commanding officer, fearing that Paul would be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them and bring him into the barracks.
11
The following night, the Lord stood by him and said, “Cheer up, Paul, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must testify also at Rome.”
12
When it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.
13
There were more than forty people who had made this conspiracy.
14
They came to the chief priests and the elders, and said, “We have bound ourselves under a great curse to taste nothing until we have killed Paul.
15
Now therefore, you with the council inform the commanding officer that he should bring him down to you tomorrow, as though you were going to judge his case more exactly. We are ready to kill him before he comes near.”
16
But Paul’s sister’s son heard they were lying in wait, and he came and entered into the barracks and told Paul.
17
Paul summoned one of the centurions and said, “Bring this young man to the commanding officer, for he has something to tell him.”
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So he took him and brought him to the commanding officer and said, “Paul, the prisoner, summoned me and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.”
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The commanding officer took him by the hand, and going aside, asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?”
20
He said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though intending to inquire somewhat more accurately concerning him.
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Therefore don’t yield to them, for more than forty men lie in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse to neither eat nor drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, looking for the promise from you.”
22
So the commanding officer let the young man go, charging him, “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.”
23
He called to himself two of the centurions, and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred men armed with spears, at the third hour of the night.”
24
He asked them to provide mounts, that they might set Paul on one, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.
25
He wrote a letter like this:
26
“Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.
27
“This man was seized by the Jews, and was about to be killed by them when I came with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.
28
Desiring to know the cause why they accused him, I brought him down to their council.
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I found him to be accused about questions of their law, but not to be charged with anything worthy of death or of imprisonment.
30
When I was told that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him to you immediately, charging his accusers also to bring their accusations against him before you. Farewell.”
31
So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.
32
But on the next day they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the barracks.
33
When they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.
34
When the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. When he understood that he was from Cilicia, he said,
35
“I will hear you fully when your accusers also arrive.” He commanded that he be kept in Herod’s palace.
wh1881 (wh1881) - Westcott-Hort Greek NT 1881 eBible USFM
1
ατενισας δε παυλος τω συνεδριω ειπεν ανδρες αδελφοι εγω παση συνειδησει αγαθη πεπολιτευμαι τω θεω αχρι ταυτης της ημερας
2
ο δε αρχιερευς ανανιας επεταξεν τοις παρεστωσιν αυτω τυπτειν αυτου το στομα
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τοτε ο παυλος προς αυτον ειπεν τυπτειν σε μελλει ο θεος τοιχε κεκονιαμενε και συ καθη κρινων με κατα τον νομον και παρανομων κελευεις με τυπτεσθαι
4
οι δε παρεστωτες ειπαν τον αρχιερεα του θεου λοιδορεις
5
εφη τε ο παυλος ουκ ηδειν αδελφοι οτι εστιν αρχιερευς γεγραπται γαρ οτι αρχοντα του λαου σου ουκ ερεις κακως
6
γνους δε ο παυλος οτι το εν μερος εστιν σαδδουκαιων το δε ετερον φαρισαιων εκραζεν εν τω συνεδριω ανδρες αδελφοι εγω φαρισαιος ειμι υιος φαρισαιων περι ελπιδος και αναστασεως νεκρων κρινομαι
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τουτο δε αυτου λαλουντος εγενετο στασις των φαρισαιων και σαδδουκαιων και εσχισθη το πληθος
8
σαδδουκαιοι γαρ λεγουσιν μη ειναι αναστασιν μητε αγγελον μητε πνευμα φαρισαιοι δε ομολογουσιν τα αμφοτερα
9
εγενετο δε κραυγη μεγαλη και ανασταντες τινες των γραμματεων του μερους των φαρισαιων διεμαχοντο λεγοντες ουδεν κακον ευρισκομεν εν τω ανθρωπω τουτω ει δε πνευμα ελαλησεν αυτω η αγγελος
10
πολλης δε γινομενης στασεως φοβηθεις ο χιλιαρχος μη διασπασθη ο παυλος υπ αυτων εκελευσεν το στρατευμα καταβαν αρπασαι αυτον εκ μεσου αυτων αγειν εις την παρεμβολην
11
τη δε επιουση νυκτι επιστας αυτω ο κυριος ειπεν θαρσει ως γαρ διεμαρτυρω τα περι εμου εις ιερουσαλημ ουτως σε δει και εις ρωμην μαρτυρησαι
12
γενομενης δε ημερας ποιησαντες συστροφην οι ιουδαιοι ανεθεματισαν εαυτους λεγοντες μητε φαγειν μητε πειν εως ου αποκτεινωσιν τον παυλον
13
ησαν δε πλειους τεσσερακοντα οι ταυτην την συνωμοσιαν ποιησαμενοι
14
οιτινες προσελθοντες τοις αρχιερευσιν και τοις πρεσβυτεροις ειπαν αναθεματι ανεθεματισαμεν εαυτους μηδενος γευσασθαι εως ου αποκτεινωμεν τον παυλον
15
νυν ουν υμεις εμφανισατε τω χιλιαρχω συν τω συνεδριω οπως καταγαγη αυτον εις υμας ως μελλοντας διαγινωσκειν ακριβεστερον τα περι αυτου ημεις δε προ του εγγισαι αυτον ετοιμοι εσμεν του ανελειν αυτον
16
ακουσας δε ο υιος της αδελφης παυλου την ενεδραν παραγενομενος και εισελθων εις την παρεμβολην απηγγειλεν τω παυλω
17
προσκαλεσαμενος δε ο παυλος ενα των εκατονταρχων εφη τον νεανιαν τουτον απαγε προς τον χιλιαρχον εχει γαρ απαγγειλαι τι αυτω
18
ο μεν ουν παραλαβων αυτον ηγαγεν προς τον χιλιαρχον και φησιν ο δεσμιος παυλος προσκαλεσαμενος με ηρωτησεν τουτον τον νεανιαν αγαγειν προς σε εχοντα τι λαλησαι σοι
19
επιλαβομενος δε της χειρος αυτου ο χιλιαρχος και αναχωρησας κατ ιδιαν επυνθανετο τι εστιν ο εχεις απαγγειλαι μοι
20
ειπεν δε οτι οι ιουδαιοι συνεθεντο του ερωτησαι σε οπως αυριον τον παυλον καταγαγης εις το συνεδριον ως μελλων τι ακριβεστερον πυνθανεσθαι περι αυτου
21
συ ουν μη πεισθης αυτοις ενεδρευουσιν γαρ αυτον εξ αυτων ανδρες πλειους τεσσερακοντα οιτινες ανεθεματισαν εαυτους μητε φαγειν μητε πειν εως ου ανελωσιν αυτον και νυν εισιν ετοιμοι προσδεχομενοι την απο σου επαγγελιαν
22
ο μεν ουν χιλιαρχος απελυσεν τον νεανισκον παραγγειλας μηδενι εκλαλησαι οτι ταυτα ενεφανισας προς εμε
23
και προσκαλεσαμενος τινας δυο των εκατονταρχων ειπεν ετοιμασατε στρατιωτας διακοσιους οπως πορευθωσιν εως καισαριας και ιππεις εβδομηκοντα και δεξιολαβους διακοσιους απο τριτης ωρας της νυκτος
24
κτηνη τε παραστησαι ινα επιβιβασαντες τον παυλον διασωσωσιν προς φηλικα τον ηγεμονα
25
γραψας επιστολην εχουσαν τον τυπον τουτον
26
κλαυδιος λυσιας τω κρατιστω ηγεμονι φηλικι χαιρειν
27
τον ανδρα τουτον συλλημφθεντα υπο των ιουδαιων και μελλοντα αναιρεισθαι υπ αυτων επιστας συν τω στρατευματι εξειλαμην μαθων οτι ρωμαιος εστιν
28
βουλομενος τε επιγνωναι την αιτιαν δι ην ενεκαλουν αυτω [κατηγαγον εις το συνεδριον αυτων]
29
ον ευρον εγκαλουμενον περι ζητηματων του νομου αυτων μηδεν δε αξιον θανατου η δεσμων εχοντα εγκλημα
30
μηνυθεισης δε μοι επιβουλης εις τον ανδρα εσεσθαι εξαυτης επεμψα προς σε παραγγειλας και τοις κατηγοροις λεγειν προς αυτον επι σου
31
οι μεν ουν στρατιωται κατα το διατεταγμενον αυτοις αναλαβοντες τον παυλον ηγαγον δια νυκτος εις την αντιπατριδα
32
τη δε επαυριον εασαντες τους ιππεις απερχεσθαι συν αυτω υπεστρεψαν εις την παρεμβολην
33
οιτινες εισελθοντες εις την καισαριαν και αναδοντες την επιστολην τω ηγεμονι παρεστησαν και τον παυλον αυτω
34
αναγνους δε και επερωτησας εκ ποιας επαρχειας εστιν και πυθομενος οτι απο κιλικιας
35
διακουσομαι σου εφη οταν και οι κατηγοροι σου παραγενωνται κελευσας εν τω πραιτωριω του ηρωδου φυλασσεσθαι αυτον
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
1
And Paul having earnestly beheld the sanhedrim, said, `Men, brethren, I in all good conscience have lived to God unto this day;'
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and the chief priest Ananias commanded those standing by him to smite him on the mouth,
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then Paul said unto him, `God is about to smite thee, thou whitewashed wall, and thou--thou dost sit judging me according to the law, and, violating law, dost order me to be smitten!'
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And those who stood by said, `The chief priest of God dost thou revile?'
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and Paul said, `I did not know, brethren, that he is chief priest: for it hath been written, Of the ruler of thy people thou shalt not speak evil;'
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and Paul having known that the one part are Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, cried out in the sanhedrim, `Men, brethren, I am a Pharisee--son of a Pharisee--concerning hope and rising again of dead men I am judged.'
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And he having spoken this, there came a dissension of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees, and the crowd was divided,
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for Sadducees, indeed, say there is no rising again, nor messenger, nor spirit, but Pharisees confess both.
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And there came a great cry, and the scribes of the Pharisees' part having arisen, were striving, saying, `No evil do we find in this man; and if a spirit spake to him, or a messenger, we may not fight against God;'
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and a great dissension having come, the chief captain having been afraid lest Paul may be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiery, having gone down, to take him by force out of the midst of them, and to bring <FI>him<Fi> to the castle.
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And on the following night, the Lord having stood by him, said, `Take courage, Paul, for as thou didst fully testify the things concerning me at Jerusalem, so it behoveth thee also at Rome to testify.'
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And day having come, certain of the Jews having made a concourse, did anathematize themselves, saying neither to eat nor to drink till they may kill Paul;
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and they were more than forty who made this conspiracy by oath,
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who having come near to the chief priests and to the elders said, `With an anathema we did anathematize ourselves--to taste nothing till we have killed Paul;
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now, therefore, ye, signify ye to the chief captain, with the sanhedrim, that to-morrow he may bring him down unto you, as being about to know more exactly the things concerning him; and we, before his coming nigh, are ready to put him to death.'
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And the son of Paul's sister having heard of the lying in wait, having gone and entered into the castle, told Paul,
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and Paul having called near one of the centurions, said, `This young man lead unto the chief captain, for he hath something to tell him.'
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He indeed, then, having taken him, brought him unto the chief captain, and saith, `The prisoner Paul, having called me near, asked <FI>me<Fi> this young man to bring unto thee, having something to say to thee.'
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And the chief captain having taken him by the hand, and having withdrawn by themselves, inquired, `What is that which thou hast to tell me?'
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and he said--`The Jews agreed to request thee, that to-morrow to the sanhedrim thou mayest bring down Paul, as being about to enquire something more exactly concerning him;
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thou, therefore, mayest thou not yield to them, for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, who did anathematize themselves--not to eat nor to drink till they kill him, and now they are ready, waiting for the promise from thee.'
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The chief captain, then, indeed, let the young man go, having charged <FI>him<Fi> to tell no one, `that these things thou didst shew unto me;'
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and having called near a certain two of the centurions, he said, `Make ready soldiers two hundred, that they may go on unto Caesarea, and horsemen seventy, and spearmen two hundred, from the third hour of the night;
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beasts also provide, that, having set Paul on, they may bring him safe unto Felix the governor;'
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he having written a letter after this description:
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`Claudius Lysias, to the most noble governor Felix, hail:
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This man having been taken by the Jews, and being about to be killed by them--having come with the soldiery, I rescued him, having learned that he is a Roman;
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and, intending to know the cause for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their sanhedrim,
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whom I found accused concerning questions of their law, and having no accusation worthy of death or bonds;
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and a plot having been intimated to me against this man--about to be of the Jews--at once I sent unto thee, having given command also to the accusers to say the things against him before thee; be strong.'
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Then, indeed, the soldiers according to that directed them, having taken up Paul, brought him through the night to Antipatris,
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and on the morrow, having suffered the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to the castle;
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those having entered into Caesarea, and delivered the letter to the governor, did present also Paul to him.
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And the governor having read <FI>it<Fi> , and inquired of what province he is, and understood that <FI>he is<Fi> from Cilicia;
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`I will hear thee--said he--when thine accusers also may have come;' he also commanded him to be kept in the praetorium of Herod.
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).