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Greek: New Testament (NAS)
English: John Barach
Chapter 23
Conflict with the High Priest
1  Ἀτενίσας δὲ Παῦλος τῷ συνεδρίῳ εἶπεν, ἄνδρες ἀδελφοί, ἐγὼ πάσῃ συνειδήσει ἀγαθῇ πεπολίτευμαι τῷ θεῷ ἄχρι ταύτης τῆς ἡμέρας. 2  ὁ δὲ ἀρχιερεὺς Ἀνανίας ἐπέταξεν τοῖς παρεστῶσιν αὐτῷ τύπτειν αὐτοῦ τὸ στόμα. 3  τότε ὁ Παῦλος πρὸς αὐτὸν εἶπεν, τύπτειν σε μέλλει ὁ θεός, τοῖχε κεκονιαμένε· καὶ σὺ κάθῃ κρίνων με κατὰ τὸν νόμον καὶ παρανομῶν κελεύεις με τύπτεσθαι; 4  οἱ δὲ παρεστῶτες εἶπαν, τὸν ἀρχιερέα τοῦ θεοῦ λοιδορεῖς; 5  ἔφη τε ὁ Παῦλος, οὐκ ᾔδειν, ἀδελφοί, ὅτι ἐστὶν ἀρχιερεύς· γέγραπται γὰρ ὅτι Ἄρχοντα τοῦ λαοῦ σου οὐκ ἐρεῖς κακῶς. {Ex. 22:28}
1Paul looked intently at the Sanhedrin and said, “Men and brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this very day.” 2But the high priest, Ananias, ordered those standing near him to strike him on the mouth. 3Then Paul said to him, “God is about to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit there judging me according to the Law, and yet, in violation of the Law, order me to be struck?” 4Those standing by said, “Are you insulting God’s high priest?” 5And 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 of your people.’” {Ex. 22:28}
Strategy and Division in the Sanhedrin
6  Γνοὺς δὲ ὁ Παῦλος ὅτι τὸ ἓν μέρος ἐστὶν Σαδδουκαίων τὸ δὲ ἕτερον Φαρισαίων ἔκραζεν ἐν τῷ συνεδρίῳ, ἄνδρες ἀδελφοί, ἐγὼ Φαρισαῖός εἰμι, υἱὸς Φαρισαίων, περὶ ἐλπίδος καὶ ἀναστάσεως νεκρῶν [ἐγὼ] κρίνομαι. 7  τοῦτο δὲ αὐτοῦ εἰπόντος ἐγένετο στάσις τῶν Φαρισαίων καὶ Σαδδουκαίων καὶ ἐσχίσθη τὸ πλῆθος. 8  Σαδδουκαῖοι μὲν γὰρ λέγουσιν μὴ εἶναι ἀνάστασιν μήτε ἄγγελον μήτε πνεῦμα, Φαρισαῖοι δὲ ὁμολογοῦσιν τὰ ἀμφότερα.
6Now when Paul realized that one part was made up of Sadducees and the other of Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees! It is concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.” 7When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8(For Sadducees say there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but Pharisees acknowledge them all.)
9  ἐγένετο δὲ κραυγὴ μεγάλη, καὶ ἀναστάντες τινὲς τῶν γραμματέων τοῦ μέρους τῶν Φαρισαίων διεμάχοντο λέγοντες, οὐδὲν κακὸν εὑρίσκομεν ἐν τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ τούτῳ· εἰ δὲ πνεῦμα ἐλάλησεν αὐτῷ ἢ ἄγγελος; 10  πολλῆς δὲ γινομένης στάσεως φοβηθεὶς ὁ χιλίαρχος μὴ διασπασθῇ ὁ Παῦλος ὑπ' αὐτῶν ἐκέλευσεν τὸ στράτευμα καταβὰν ἁρπάσαι αὐτὸν ἐκ μέσου αὐτῶν ἄγειν τε εἰς τὴν παρεμβολήν.
9A great clamor arose, and some of the scribes from the party of the Pharisees stood up and argued forcefully, saying, “We find nothing wrong with this man! What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” 10As the dispute turned into a near riot, the commander feared that Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the detachment of soldiers to go down, snatch him from their midst by force, and bring him into the barracks.
A Vision of Rome
11  Τῇ δὲ ἐπιούσῃ νυκτὶ ἐπιστὰς αὐτῷ ὁ κύριος εἶπεν, θάρσει· ὡς γὰρ διεμαρτύρω τὰ περὶ ἐμοῦ εἰς Ἰερουσαλήμ, οὕτω σε δεῖ καὶ εἰς Ῥώμην μαρτυρῆσαι.
A Conspiracy to Kill Paul
11On the following night, the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage! For just as you have solemnly testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”
The Assassination Plot and the Secret Vow
12  Γενομένης δὲ ἡμέρας ποιήσαντες συστροφὴν οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι ἀνεθεμάτισαν ἑαυτοὺς λέγοντες μήτε φαγεῖν μήτε πιεῖν ἕως οὗ ἀποκτείνωσιν τὸν Παῦλον. 13  ἦσαν δὲ πλείους τεσσεράκοντα οἱ ταύτην τὴν συνωμοσίαν ποιησάμενοι, 14  οἵτινες προσελθόντες τοῖς ἀρχιερεῦσιν καὶ τοῖς πρεσβυτέροις εἶπαν, ἀναθέματι ἀνεθεματίσαμεν ἑαυτοὺς μηδενὸς γεύσασθαι ἕως οὗ ἀποκτείνωμεν τὸν Παῦλον. 15  νῦν οὖν ὑμεῖς ἐμφανίσατε τῷ χιλιάρχῳ σὺν τῷ συνεδρίῳ ὅπως καταγάγῃ αὐτὸν εἰς ὑμᾶς ὡς μέλλοντας διαγινώσκειν ἀκριβέστερον τὰ περὶ αὐτοῦ· ἡμεῖς δὲ πρὸ τοῦ ἐγγίσαι αὐτὸν ἕτοιμοί ἐσμεν τοῦ ἀνελεῖν αὐτόν.
12When day came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under an oath, saying they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. 13There were more than forty men who had made this pact. 14They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have bound ourselves under a solemn curse to taste nothing until we have killed Paul. 15Now, therefore, you and the Sanhedrin must make a formal request to the commander to bring him down to you, as though you intend to determine his case more accurately. We, for our part, are ready to do away with him before he even gets near.”
Paul’s Nephew Uncovers the Ambush
16  Ἀκούσας δὲ ὁ υἱὸς τῆς ἀδελφῆς Παῦλου τὴν ἐνέδραν, παραγενόμενος καὶ εἰσελθὼν εἰς τὴν παρεμβολὴν ἀπήγγειλεν τῷ Παύλῳ. 17  προσκαλεσάμενος δὲ ὁ Παῦλος ἕνα τῶν ἑκατονταρχῶν ἔφη, τὸν νεανίαν τοῦτον ἀπάγαγε πρὸς τὸν χιλίαρχον, ἔχει γὰρ ἀπαγγεῖλαί τι αὐτῷ. 18  ὁ μὲν οὖν παραλαβὼν αὐτὸν ἤγαγεν πρὸς τὸν χιλίαρχον καὶ φησίν, ὁ δέσμιος Παῦλος προσκαλεσάμενός με ἠρώτησεν τοῦτον τὸν νεανίσκον ἀγαγεῖν πρὸς σὲ ἔχοντά τι λαλῆσαί σοι.
16But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the ambush, he came and entered the barracks and reported it to Paul. 17Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him.” 18So he took him and brought him to the commander and said, “The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, as he has something to tell you.”
19  ἐπιλαβόμενος δὲ τῆς χειρὸς αὐτοῦ ὁ χιλίαρχος καὶ ἀναχωρήσας κατ' ἰδίαν ἐπυνθάνετο, τί ἐστιν ὃ ἔχεις ἀπαγγεῖλαί μοι; 20  εἶπεν δὲ ὅτι οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι συνέθεντο τοῦ ἐρωτῆσαί σε ὅπως αὔριον τὸν Παῦλον καταγάγῃς εἰς τὸ συνέδριον ὡς μέλλων τι ἀκριβέστερον πυνθάνεσθαι περὶ αὐτοῦ. 21  σὺ οὖν μὴ πεισθῇς αὐτοῖς· ἐνεδρεύουσιν γὰρ αὐτὸν ἐξ αὐτῶν ἄνδρες πλείους τεσσεράκοντα, οἵτινες ἀνεθεμάτισαν ἑαυτοὺς μήτε φαγεῖν μήτε πιεῖν ἕως οὗ ἀνέλωσιν αὐτόν, καὶ νῦν εἰσιν ἕτοιμοι προσδεχόμενοι τὴν ἀπὸ σοῦ ἐπαγγελίαν. 22  ὁ μὲν οὖν χιλίαρχος ἀπέλυσε τὸν νεανίσκον παραγγείλας μηδενὶ ἐκλαλῆσαι ὅτι ταῦτα ἐνεφάνισας πρός με.
19The commander took him by the hand, and withdrawing privately, he began to inquire, “What is it that you have to report to me?” 20He said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the Sanhedrin tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire more accurately about him. 21But do not be persuaded by them! For more than forty of their men are lying in wait for him; they have bound themselves under a curse neither to eat nor drink until they have done away with him. And now they are ready, waiting for your consent.” 22The commander then dismissed the young man, ordering him, “Tell no one that you have disclosed these things to me.”
The Night Flight to Caesarea
23  Καὶ προσκαλεσάμενος δύο [τινὰς] τῶν ἑκατονταρχῶν εἶπεν, ἑτοιμάσατε στρατιώτας διακοσίους, ὅπως πορευθῶσιν ἕως Καισαρείας, καὶ ἱππεῖς ἑβδομήκοντα καὶ δεξιολάβους διακοσίους ἀπὸ τρίτης ὥρας τῆς νυκτός, 24  κτήνη τε παραστῆσαι ἵνα ἐπιβιβάσαντες τὸν Παῦλον διασώσωσι> πρὸς Φήλικα τὸν ἡγεμόνα, 25  γράψας ἐπιστολὴν ἔχουσαν τὸν τύπον τοῦτον·
23Then he called two of the centurions and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, along with seventy horsemen and two hundred light-armed troops, to depart by the third hour of the night. 24Also provide mounts so that they may put Paul on them and bring him safely to Felix the Governor.” 25And he wrote a letter with this content:
26  Κλαύδιος Λυσίας τῷ κρατίστῳ ἡγεμόνι Φήλικι χαίρειν. 27  τὸν ἄνδρα τοῦτον συλλημφθέντα ὑπὸ τῶν Ἰουδαίων καὶ μέλλοντα ἀναιρεῖσθαι ὑπ' αὐτῶν ἐπιστὰς σὺν τῷ στρατεύματι ἐξειλάμην μαθὼν ὅτι Ῥωμαῖός ἐστιν. 28  βουλόμενός τε ἐπιγνῶναι τὴν αἰτίαν δι' ἣν ἐνεκάλουν αὐτῷ, κατήγαγον εἰς τὸ συνέδριον αὐτῶν 29  ὃν εὗρον ἐγκαλούμενον περὶ ζητημάτων τοῦ νόμου αὐτῶν, μηδὲν δὲ ἄξιον θανάτου ἢ δεσμῶν ἔχοντα ἔγκλημα. 30  μηνυθείσης δὲ μοι ἐπιβουλῆς εἰς τὸν ἄνδρα ἔσεσθαι ἐξαυτῆς ἔπεμψα πρὸς σὲ παραγγείλας καὶ τοῖς κατηγόροις λέγειν [τὰ] πρὸς αὐτὸν ἐπὶ σοῦ.
26"Claudius Lysias, to His Excellency Governor Felix: Greetings. 27This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them when I came upon them with my troops and rescued him, having learned that he is a Roman citizen. 28Wanting to know the grounds on which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin. 29I found that he was being accused concerning questions of their Law, but was under no charge deserving of death or imprisonment. 30When it was disclosed to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, also ordering his accusers to state their case against him before you.”
Arrival at the Praetorium
31  Οἱ μὲν οὖν στρατιῶται κατὰ τὸ διατεταγμένον αὐτοῖς ἀναλαβόντες τὸν Παῦλον ἤγαγον διὰ νυκτὸς εἰς τὴν Ἀντιπατρίδα, 32  τῇ δὲ ἐπαύριον ἐάσαντες τοὺς ἱππεῖς ἀπέρχεσθαι σὺν αὐτῷ ὑπέστρεψαν εἰς τὴν παρεμβολήν· 33  οἵτινες εἰσελθόντες εἰς τὴν Καισάρειαν καὶ ἀναδόντες τὴν ἐπιστολὴν τῷ ἡγεμόνι παρέστησαν καὶ τὸν Παῦλον αὐτῷ. 34  ἀναγνοὺς δὲ καὶ ἐπερωτήσας ἐκ ποίας ἐπαρχείας ἐστίν, καὶ πυθόμενος ὅτι ἀπὸ Κιλικίας, 35  διακούσομαί σου, ἔφη, ὅταν καὶ οἱ κατήγοροί σου παραγένωνται· κελεύσας ἐν τῷ πραιτωρίῳ τοῦ Ἡρῴδου φυλάσσεσθαι αὐτόν.
31So the soldiers, according to their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32On the next day, they let the horsemen go on with him while they returned to the barracks. 33When these had entered Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. 34After reading the letter and asking what province he was from, and learning that he was from Cilicia, 35the governor said, “I will give you a full hearing when your accusers arrive also.” He then ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s Praetorium.