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   1 (Ac 24:16; 2Co 1:12) Paul looked at the Sanhedrin and said,   
   "Brothers, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day."   
   2 (Ac 24:1; Jn 18:22) The high priest Ananias ordered those who stood   
   by him to strike him on the mouth.   
   3 (Jn 7:51; Dt 25:1-2) Then Paul said to him, "God will strike you,   
   you whitewashed wall! Do you sit judging me according to the law,   
   yet order me to be struck contrary to the law?"   
   4 Those who stood by said, "Do you criticize God's high priest?"   
   5 (Ex 22:28) Paul said, "Brothers, I did not know that he was   
   the high priest. For it is written,   
   'You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people.'(Ex 22:28.)"   
   6 (Ac 24:15; 24:21) Then Paul, knowing that one sect were Sadducees   
   and the other Pharisees, cried out among the Sanhedrin,   
   "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of a Pharisee. I am being judged   
   for my hope in the resurrection of the dead."   
   7 When he had said this, dissension arose between the Pharisees   
   and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.   
   8 (Mt 22:23; Lk 20:27) For the Sadducees say that there is   
   no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit. But the Pharisees acknowledge   
   them all.   
   9 (Ac 22:7; 22:17-18) There was a great outcry. The scribes that were   
   from the sect of Pharisees stood up and argued,   
   "We find no evil in this man. But if a spirit or an angel has spoken   
   to him, let us not fight against God."   
   10 (Ac 22:24) When much dissension arose, fearing that Paul would be torn   
   to pieces by them, the commander ordered the soldiers to go down and take   
   him from them by force and bring him into the barracks.   
   11 (Ac 18:9; 19:21) The following night the Lord stood by him and said,   
   "Take courage, Paul. For as you have testified about Me in Jerusalem,   
   so you must also testify at Rome."   
      
   1 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have   
   lived in all good conscience before God until this day.   
   2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him   
   on the mouth.   
   3 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 And they 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, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.   
   6 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 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees   
   and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.   
   8 For 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, 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 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 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 Against Paul's Life   
      
   12 (Ac 23:21; 23:30) At daybreak some of the Jews conspired under oath,   
   saying they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.   
   13 There were more than forty who had conspired.   
   14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said,   
   "We have bound ourselves under oath not to eat until we have killed Paul.   
   15 So now, with the Sanhedrin, tell the commander to bring him down to you   
   tomorrow, pretending to inquire further concerning him. We are ready to   
   kill him before he arrives."   
   16 (Ac 23:10) But when the son of Paul's sister heard of the treachery,   
   he went and entered the barracks and told Paul.   
   17 Then Paul called one of the centurions over and said,   
   "Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to tell him."   
   18 (Eph 3:1) So he took him to the commander and said, "Paul the prisoner   
   sent for me and asked me to bring you this young man who has something   
   to tell you."   
   19 Then the commander took him by the hand, went aside privately,   
   and asked him, "What is it you have to tell me?"   
   20 (Ac 23:14-15)The boy said, "The Jews have agreed to ask you   
   to bring Paul down tomorrow to the Sanhedrin, pretending to inquire   
   further concerning him.   
   21 (Ac 23:12-14) Do not trust them. More than forty men, who have bound   
   themselves with an oath to neither eat nor drink until they have killed   
   him, are waiting for him. And now they are ready, waiting for your   
   promise."   
   22 The commander dismissed the young man and ordered him,   
   "Tell no one that you have reported these things to me."   
      
   12 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 And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.   
   14 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 Now 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 ready to kill him.   
   16 And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went a   
   nd entered into the castle, and told Paul.   
   17 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 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 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, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring   
   down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat   
   of him more perfectly.   
   21 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 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 Sent to Felix the Governor   
      
   23 Then he summoned two centurions and said,   
   "Prepare two hundred infantrymen, seventy mounted soldiers,   
   and two hundred light infantrymen with spears to go to Caes­area   
   at the third hour of the night.   
   24 (Ac 23:26; 24:10) And provide mounts so Paul may ride   
   and take him safely to Felix the governor."   
   25 He wrote a letter that went like this:   
   26 (Ac 15:23; Lk 1:3) Claudius Lysias,   
   To His Excellency Governor Felix:   
   Greetings.   
   27 (Ac 22:25-29) This man was seized by the Jews   
   and was about to be killed by them. When I learned that he was   
   a Roman citizen, I came with soldiers and rescued him.   
      
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   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)