Acts 22:22–23:10

Paul Questioned by the Military Tribune

²²Now they were listening to him until this word, and they raised their voices, saying, “Away with such a man from the earth! For it is not fitting for him to live!” ²³And while^* they were screaming and throwing off their^* cloaks and throwing dust into the air, ²⁴the military tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks,^e saying he was to be examined with a lash so that he could find out for what reason they were crying out against him in this way. ²⁵But when they had stretched him out for the lash,^f Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it permitted for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?” ²⁶And when^* the centurion heard this,^* he went to the military tribune and^* reported it,^* saying, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen!” ²⁷So the military tribune came and^* said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.” ²⁸And the military tribune replied, “I acquired this citizenship for a large sum of money.” And Paul said, “But I indeed was born a citizen.^{* 29}Then immediately those who were about to examine him kept away from him, and the military tribune also was afraid when he^* realized that he was a Roman citizen and that he had tied him up.^{g 30}But on the next day, because he^* wanted to know the true reason why he was being accused by the Jews, he released him and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to assemble, and he brought down Paul and^* had him^* stand before them.

Paul Before the Sanhedrin

23And looking intently at the Sanhedrin, Paul said, “Men and brothers, I have lived my life in all good conscience before God to this day.” ²So the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near him to strike his mouth. ³Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! And are you sitting there judging me according to the law, and acting contrary to the law do you order me to be struck?” ⁴And those who stood nearby said, “Are you reviling the high priest of God?” ⁵And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was high priest. For it is written, ‘You must not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’ ”^a

⁶Now when^* Paul realized that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he shouted out in the Sanhedrin, “Men and brothers! I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees! I am being judged concerning the hope and the resurrection of the dead!” ⁷And when^* he said this, a dispute developed between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. ⁸(For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection or angel or spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.) ⁹And there was loud shouting, and some of the scribes from the party of the Pharisees stood up and^* contended sharply, saying, “We find nothing wrong with this man! But what if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” ¹⁰And when^* the dispute became severe, the military tribune, fearing lest Paul be torn apart by them, ordered the detachment to go down, take him away from their midst, and bring him^* into the barracks.^b