Acts 22:23–23:11

23  And as they were crying, and throwing away their clothes, and casting dust into the air, 24  the chiliarch commanded him to be brought into the fortress, saying that he should be examined by scourging, that he might ascertain for what cause they cried thus against him. 25  But as they stretched him forward with the thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman and uncondemned? 26  And the centurion, having heard it, went and reported it to the chiliarch, saying, What art thou going to do? for this man is a Roman. 27  And the chiliarch coming up said to him, Tell me, Art thou a Roman? And he said, Yes. 28  And the chiliarch answered, I, for a great sum, bought this citizenship. And Paul said, But I was also free born. 29  Immediately therefore those who were going to examine him left him, and the chiliarch also was afraid when he ascertained that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him. 30  And on the morrow, desirous to know the certainty of the matter why he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him, and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet, and having brought Paul down set him before them.

Chapter 23

1  And Paul, fixing his eyes on the council, said, Brethren, I have walked in all good conscience with God 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 of God? 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. 8  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… 10  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. 11  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.