Paul Before the Sanhedrin
Study note
Paul declares before the council that he has lived with a clear conscience before God. The high priest Ananias orders him struck on the mouth, and Paul sharply rebukes him, calling him a whitewashed wall, though he quickly acknowledges the prohibition against speaking evil of the ruler of the people. Paul then strategically declares that he is on trial for the hope of the resurrection of the dead. This splits the council between the Pharisees, who believe in resurrection, angels, and spirits, and the Sadducees, who deny all three. The argument becomes so violent that the commander has soldiers remove Paul by force.
1 Paul looked the council members right in the eye. He said, "My brothers, I have lived my whole life with a clear conscience before God." And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
2 The high priest Ananias told the men next to Paul to slap him on the mouth right away. And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.
3 Paul fired back, "God is going to strike you, you painted-over wall! You sit there claiming to judge me by the law, and then you break the very same law by having me hit?" Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?
4 The people nearby gasped and said, "How dare you talk like that to God's high priest!" And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest?
5 Paul responded, "I did not realize he was the high priest, brothers. The scripture does say, 'You must not speak evil about the ruler of your people.'" Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.
6 Paul noticed that the council was made up of both Sadducees and Pharisees. So he called out, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee and the son of a Pharisee! The reason I am on trial here is because I believe in the resurrection of the dead!" But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
7 That one statement set off a great argument between the Pharisees and Sadducees. It split the council right down the middle. And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.
8 (The Sadducees do not believe in resurrection, angels, or spirits. The Pharisees believe in all of them.) For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.
9 A massive shouting match broke out. Some teachers of the law who were Pharisees jumped to Paul's defense: "We cannot find anything wrong with this man! Maybe a spirit or an angel spoke to him. We should not fight against God." And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.
10 The argument got so violent that the commander worried the crowd would tear Paul to pieces. He ordered soldiers to go down, pull Paul away by force, and get him back to the barracks. 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.
The Lord Encourages Paul
Study note
That night the Lord stands near Paul and speaks directly to him: 'Take courage, Paul! Just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, you must also testify in Rome.' This divine assurance confirms that Paul will survive his present danger and fulfill his long-held desire to preach the gospel in the capital of the Roman Empire.
11 That night, the Lord came and stood right beside Paul. "Stay strong, Paul," the Lord said. "You have told Jerusalem about me. Now you must do the same thing in Rome." And 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.
The Plot to Kill Paul
Study note
More than forty Jewish men form a conspiracy, binding themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed Paul. They enlist the chief priests and elders to request that Paul be brought before the council again, planning to ambush him on the way. However, Paul's nephew overhears the plot and reports it to Paul, who sends the young man to the commander. The commander takes the report seriously and warns the nephew to keep silent.
12 The next morning, some Jews made a plot and took a serious oath. They would not eat or drink until they had killed Paul. And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
13 Over forty men were in on this conspiracy. And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.
14 They went to the chief priests and elders and announced, "We have taken a sacred oath to eat nothing until Paul is dead." And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.
15 "So this is the plan: you and the council should ask the commander to bring Paul back for questioning. Pretend you need to examine his case more closely. We will be ready to kill him before he ever gets here." Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would inquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.
16 But Paul's nephew -- his sister's son -- overheard the whole plot. He went to the barracks and told Paul about it. And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.
17 Paul called one of the officers over and said, "Please take this young man to the commander. He has important information." Then 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 The officer brought him to the commander and explained, "The prisoner Paul asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you." So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee.
19 The commander took the young man by the hand, pulled him aside where no one could hear, and asked, "What do you need to tell me?" 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 The young man said, "The Jewish leaders are going to ask you to bring Paul before the council tomorrow. They will act like they want to look into his case more closely." And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would inquire somewhat of him more perfectly.
21 "Do not fall for it! Over forty men are hiding, ready to ambush him. They have vowed not to eat or drink until they kill him. They are all set -- they are just waiting for you to say yes." But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with 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 The commander let the young man go. He told him, "Do not tell anyone that you gave me this information." 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.
Paul Transferred to Caesarea
Study note
The commander arranges an enormous escort of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to transfer Paul to Governor Felix in Caesarea by night. He writes a letter explaining the situation, noting that Paul's accusers have disputes about their own law but that no charge worthy of death or imprisonment has been made. Upon arrival in Caesarea, Felix reads the letter, learns Paul is from Cilicia, and orders him kept under guard in Herod's palace until his accusers arrive.
23 Then he called two officers. He said, "Get two hundred foot soldiers ready. Get seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen. Leave for Caesarea tonight at nine." And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Cæsarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;
24 "Get horses for Paul to ride. Make sure he reaches Governor Felix safely." And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.
25 The commander also wrote a letter that went something like this: And he wrote a letter after this manner:
26 "From Claudius Lysias. To his Excellency, Governor Felix. Greetings." Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.
27 "The Jewish people seized this man and were about to kill him. I stepped in with my soldiers and rescued him when I discovered he is a Roman citizen." This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.
28 "I wanted to understand what they had against him, so I had him brought before their council." And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:
29 "It turned out that the accusations were all about their own religious laws. I found nothing he had done that would deserve imprisonment or death." Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.
30 "When I learned about a plot to kill him, I sent him to you right away. I also told his accusers to come present their case before you. Farewell." And 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 The soldiers carried out their orders. They took Paul that night as far as Antipatris. Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.
32 The next morning, the foot soldiers headed back to the barracks while the horsemen continued on with Paul. On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:
33 When they arrived in Caesarea, they gave the letter to the governor. They also brought Paul to him. Who, when they came to Cæsarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.
34 The governor read the letter and asked Paul what province he was from. When he found out Paul was from Cilicia, And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia;
35 he said, "I will give you a full hearing once your accusers get here." Then he ordered Paul to be held under guard in Herod's palace. I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall.