Acts 23 Flashcards
Acts 23:1
Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.”
Acts 23:2
At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.
Acts 23:3
Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!”
Acts 23:4
Those who were standing near Paul said, “You dare to insult God’s high priest?”
Acts 23:5
Paul replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’”
Acts 23:6
Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead.”
Acts 23:7
When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.
Acts 23:8
(The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.)
Acts 23:9
There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. “We find nothing wrong with this man,” they said. “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”
Acts 23:10
The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.
Acts 23:11
The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”
Acts 23:12
The next morning the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
Acts 23:13
More than forty men were involved in this plot.
Acts 23:14
They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.
Acts 23:15
Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.”
Acts 23:16
But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.
Acts 23:17
Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.”
Acts 23:18
So he took him to the commander. The centurion said, “Paul, the prisoner, sent for me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.”
Acts 23:19
The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked, “What is it you want to tell me?”
Acts 23:20
He said: “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him.
Acts 23:21
Don’t give in to them, because more than forty of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are ready now, waiting for your consent to their request.”
Acts 23:22
The commander dismissed the young man and cautioned him, “Don’t tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”
Acts 23:23
Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight.
Acts 23:24
Provide mounts for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”
