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Paul
before the Council |
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Acts 23:1
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Paul, looking intently at the Council, said,
"Brethren, I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up
to this day." |
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Acts 23:2
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The high priest Ananias commanded those standing
beside him to strike him on the mouth. |
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Acts 23:3
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Then Paul said to him, "God is going to strike
you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation
of the Law order me to be struck?" |
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Acts 23:4
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But the bystanders said, "Do you revile God's
high priest?" |
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Acts 23:5
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And Paul said, "I was not aware, brethren, that
he was high priest; for it is written, 'YOU SHALL NOT SPEAK EVIL OF A RULER OF
YOUR PEOPLE.'" |
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Acts 23:6
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But perceiving that one group were Sadducees
and the other Pharisees, Paul began crying out in the Council, "Brethren, I am
a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of
the dead!" |
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Acts 23:7
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As he said this, there occurred a dissension
between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. |
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Acts 23:8
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For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection,
nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. |
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Acts 23:9
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And there occurred a great uproar; and some
of the scribes of the Pharisaic party stood up and began to argue heatedly, saying,
"We find nothing wrong with this man; suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken
to him?" |
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Acts 23:10
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And as a great dissension was developing, the
commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them and ordered the troops
to go down and take him away from them by force, and bring him into the barracks. |
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Acts 23:11
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But on the night immediately following, the
Lord stood at his side and said, "Take courage; for as you
have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome
also." |
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A Conspiracy to Kill Paul |
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Acts 23:12
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When it was day, the Jews formed a conspiracy
and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink
until they had killed Paul. |
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Acts 23:13
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There were more than forty who formed this plot.
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Acts 23:14
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They came to the chief priests and the elders
and said, "We have bound ourselves under a solemn oath to taste nothing until
we have killed Paul. |
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Acts 23:15
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"Now therefore, you and the Council notify the
commander to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his
case by a more thorough investigation; and we for our part are ready to slay him
before he comes near the place." |
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Acts 23:16
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But the son of Paul's sister heard of their
ambush, and he came and entered the barracks and told Paul. |
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Acts 23:17
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Paul called one of the centurions to him and
said, "Lead this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to
him." |
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Acts 23:18
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So he took him and led him to the commander
and *said,
"Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to lead this young man to you
since he has something to tell you." |
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Acts 23:19
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The commander took him by the hand and stepping
aside, began to inquire of him privately, "What is it that you have to report
to me?" |
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Acts 23:20
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And he said, "The Jews have agreed to ask you
to bring Paul down tomorrow to the Council, as though they were going to inquire
somewhat more thoroughly about him. |
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Acts 23:21
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"So do not listen to them, for more than forty
of them are lying in wait for him who have bound themselves under a curse not
to eat or drink until they slay him; and now they are ready and waiting for the
promise from you." |
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Acts 23:22
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So the commander let the young man go, instructing
him, "Tell no one that you have notified me of these things." |
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Paul Moved to Caesarea |
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Acts 23:23
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And he called to him two of the centurions and
said, "Get two hundred soldiers ready by the third hour of the night to proceed
to Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen." |
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Acts 23:24
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They were also to provide mounts to put Paul
on and bring him safely to Felix the governor. |
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Acts 23:25
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And he wrote a letter having this form: |
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Acts 23:26
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"Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor
Felix, greetings. |
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Acts 23:27
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"When this man was arrested by the Jews and
was about to be slain by them, I came up to them with the troops and rescued him,
having learned that he was a Roman. |
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Acts 23:28
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"And wanting to ascertain the charge for which
they were accusing him, I brought him down to their Council; |
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Acts 23:29
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and I found him to be accused over questions
about their Law, but under no accusation deserving death or imprisonment. |
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Acts 23:30
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"When I was informed that there would be a plot
against the man, I sent him to you at once, also instructing his accusers to bring
charges against him before you." |
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Acts 23:31
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So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders,
took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. |
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Acts 23:32
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But the next day, leaving the horsemen to go
on with him, they returned to the barracks. |
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Acts 23:33
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When these had come to Caesarea and delivered
the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. |
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Acts 23:34
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When he had read it, he asked from what province
he was, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia, |
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Acts 23:35
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he said, "I will give you a hearing after your
accusers arrive also," giving orders for him to be kept in Herod's Praetorium. |
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