New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Acts 23
1
Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin. "My brothers," he said, "I have always done my duty to God. To this very day I feel that I have done nothing wrong."
Reference
Good
Hebrews 13:18
Parallel theme
1 Corinthians 4:4
Acts 22:5
Proverbs 28:1
References God
Acts 24:16
2 Timothy 1:3
2 Corinthians 1:12
2 Corinthians 4:2
References Paul
Acts 23:6
2
Ananias the high priest heard this. So he ordered the men standing near Paul to hit him on the mouth.
Reference
People
3
Then Paul said to him, "You pretender! God will hit you! You sit there and judge me by the law. But you yourself broke the law when you commanded them to hit me!"
Reference
Judgment
John 7:51
4
Those who were standing near Paul said, "How dare you talk like that to God's high priest!"
5
Paul replied, "Brothers, I didn't realize he was the high priest. It is written, 'Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.' "--(Exodus 22:28)
Reference
6
Paul knew that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees. So he called out in the Sanhedrin. "My brothers," he said, "I am a Pharisee. I am the son of a Pharisee. I believe that people will rise from the dead. That's why I am on trial."
Reference
7
When he said this, the Pharisees and the Sadducees started to argue. They began to take sides.
Reference
8
The Sadducees say that people will not rise from the dead. They don't believe there are angels or spirits either. But the Pharisees believe all these things.
Reference
9
People were causing trouble and making a lot of noise. Some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up. They argued strongly. "We find nothing wrong with this man," they said. "What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?"
Reference
Parallel theme
Acts 22:7
John 12:29
Acts 23:29
Acts 25:25
Acts 26:31
Proverbs 16:7
Resurrection
Mark 2:16
10
The arguing got out of hand. The commanding officer was afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by those who were arguing. So he ordered the soldiers to go down and take him away from them by force. They were supposed to bring him into the fort.
Reference
11
The next night the Lord stood near Paul. He said, "Be brave! You have given witness about me in Jerusalem. You must do the same in Rome."
Reference
Good
Matthew 14:27
Matthew 9:2
Parallel theme
Isaiah 41:10
Isaiah 43:2
Philippians 1:13
Isaiah 46:10
References Lord
Acts 18:9
2 Timothy 4:17
Isaiah 41:14
References Paul
Acts 19:21
12
The next morning the Jews gathered secretly to make plans against Paul. They took an oath that they would not eat or drink anything until they had killed him.
Reference
Curse
Acts 23:14
Parallel theme
Acts 23:30
Acts 23:21
Psalm 31:13
Acts 25:3
Jeremiah 11:19
2 Kings 6:31
1 Corinthians 16:22
Matthew 26:4
1 Kings 19:2
14
They went to the chief priests and the elders. They said, "We have taken a strong oath. We have made a special promise to God. We will not eat anything until we have killed Paul.
Reference
15
Now then, you and the Sanhedrin must make an appeal to the commanding officer. Ask him to bring Paul to you. Pretend you want more facts about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here."
Reference
16
But Paul's nephew heard about this plan. So he went into the fort and told Paul.
Reference
References Paul
Acts 23:10
17
Then Paul called one of the commanders. He said to him, "Take this young man to the commanding officer. He has something to tell him."
Reference
Parallel theme
Proverbs 22:3
18
So the commander took Paul's nephew to the officer. The commander said, "Paul, the prisoner, sent for me. He asked me to bring this young man to you. The young man has something to tell you."
Reference
References Paul
Ephesians 3:1
19
The commanding officer took the young man by the hand. He spoke to him in private. "What do you want to tell me?" the officer asked.
20
He said, "The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul to the Sanhedrin tomorrow. They will pretend they want more facts about him.
21
Don't give in to them. More than 40 of them are waiting in hiding to attack him. They have taken an oath that they will not eat or drink anything until they have killed him. They are ready now. All they need is for you to bring Paul to the Sanhedrin."
Reference
Parallel theme
Exodus 23:2
22
The commanding officer let the young man go. But he gave him a warning. "Don't tell anyone you have reported this to me," he said.
23
Then the commanding officer called for two of his commanders. He ordered them, "Gather a company of 200 soldiers, 70 horsemen and 200 men armed with spears. Get them ready to go to Caesarea at nine o'clock tonight.
25
Here is the letter the officer wrote.
26
I, Claudius Lysias, am writing this letter. I am sending it to His Excellency, Governor Felix. Greetings.
Reference
People
27
The Jews grabbed Paul. They were about to kill him. But I came with my soldiers and saved him. I had learned that he is a Roman citizen.
28
I wanted to know why they were bringing charges against him. So I brought him to their Sanhedrin.
Reference
Parallel theme
Acts 22:30
29
I found out that the charge against him was based on questions about their law. But there was no charge against him worthy of death or prison.
Reference
30
Then I was told about a plan against the man. So I sent him to you at once. I also ordered those bringing charges against him to tell you their case.
Reference
31
The soldiers followed their orders. During the night they took Paul with them. They brought him as far as Antipatris.
📍 Antipatris
32
The next day they let the horsemen go on with him. The soldiers returned to the fort.
33
The horsemen arrived in Caesarea. They gave the letter to the governor. Then they handed Paul over to him.
34
The governor read the letter. He asked Paul where he was from. He learned that Paul was from Cilicia.
Reference
35
So he said, "I will hear your case when those bringing charges against you get here." Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod's palace.
Reference
Judgment
Acts 24:10
John 18:28
Parallel theme
Acts 23:30
Acts 25:16
Matthew 27:27
Acts 24:19
Acts 24:1
Acts 24:22
Matthew 2:3
Matthew 2:16
Summary of Acts 23
Acts 23 continues Paul's imprisonment in Jerusalem and shows how God protects him from both religious opposition and a secret assassination plot, while also revealing that Paul must eventually travel to Rome to continue his witness about Jesus.
Paul begins by standing before the Jewish council and declaring that he has lived before God with a clear conscience, but the high priest Ananias orders him to be struck.
Paul objects to the unfair treatment and then realizes that the council contains both Pharisees and Sadducees, two major Jewish groups with important differences in their beliefs.
Paul uses this division by declaring that he is being judged because of his hope in the resurrection of the dead, a belief strongly accepted by the Pharisees but rejected by the Sadducees.
The council quickly becomes divided, and some Pharisees even defend Paul by saying that perhaps a spirit or angel has spoken to him.
The disagreement becomes so violent that the Roman commander fears Paul will be torn apart, so he orders soldiers to rescue him and bring him back to the military barracks.
That night, Jesus appears to Paul and tells him to take courage, promising that just as Paul has testified about Him in Jerusalem, he will also testify in Rome.
This promise is important because Paul does not yet know how he will reach Rome, but the events that follow show how God will use Roman protection to move him there.
The next morning, more than forty men form a secret conspiracy and swear that they will not eat or drink until they have killed Paul.
They ask the Jewish leaders to request another hearing for Paul, planning to attack him during the journey from the Roman barracks to the council.
However, Paul's nephew hears about the plan and comes to the Roman barracks to warn him.
Paul sends the young man to the Roman commander, who listens carefully and discovers the details of the assassination plan.
The commander immediately takes action and orders a large military escort consisting of soldiers, horsemen, and spearmen to move Paul secretly from Jerusalem to Caesarea during the night.
The large escort shows how seriously the Roman authorities take the threat against Paul and how important it is for them to protect a Roman citizen under their control.
The soldiers successfully transport Paul to Antipatris, after which the horsemen continue with him to Caesarea while the rest of the soldiers return to Jerusalem.
Paul is then delivered to Governor Felix, along with an official letter explaining why he has been transferred.
The Roman commander explains that Paul had been accused of matters involving Jewish law but that he could not find evidence that Paul had committed a crime deserving death or imprisonment under Roman law.
Felix agrees to hear the case when Paul's accusers arrive and orders Paul to remain in Herod's palace under guard.
The central message of Acts 23 is that God continues to protect Paul and guide him toward the mission Jesus has given him, even when powerful people are trying to silence him.
Paul faces opposition from religious leaders, angry crowds, political authorities, and a carefully organized assassination plot, yet none of these threats are able to stop the mission that Jesus has promised will continue in Rome.
The chapter also shows Paul's wisdom in dealing with difficult situations, because he recognizes the theological differences between the Pharisees and Sadducees and uses the issue of resurrection to reveal that his case is connected to a central belief of the Christian faith.
Historically, the chapter gives an important picture of the Jewish council, the Roman military presence in Jerusalem, and the relationship between Jewish religious authorities and Roman government officials.
It also introduces Governor Felix, who controlled Judea from Caesarea and would later hear Paul's case several times.
The movement from Jerusalem to Caesarea is important because Paul's story is now moving away from the Jewish religious court and increasingly into the Roman legal system.
The chapter ends with Paul safely in Caesarea, but still imprisoned, showing that God's protection does not always mean immediate freedom; instead, Paul remains under guard while continuing toward the larger purpose of giving his testimony about Jesus.
Acts 23 therefore connects faith, courage, divine protection, Roman law, and Paul's mission to Rome, showing that even a carefully planned attempt to kill Paul cannot prevent the next stage of his journey.
Paul begins by standing before the Jewish council and declaring that he has lived before God with a clear conscience, but the high priest Ananias orders him to be struck.
Paul objects to the unfair treatment and then realizes that the council contains both Pharisees and Sadducees, two major Jewish groups with important differences in their beliefs.
Paul uses this division by declaring that he is being judged because of his hope in the resurrection of the dead, a belief strongly accepted by the Pharisees but rejected by the Sadducees.
The council quickly becomes divided, and some Pharisees even defend Paul by saying that perhaps a spirit or angel has spoken to him.
The disagreement becomes so violent that the Roman commander fears Paul will be torn apart, so he orders soldiers to rescue him and bring him back to the military barracks.
That night, Jesus appears to Paul and tells him to take courage, promising that just as Paul has testified about Him in Jerusalem, he will also testify in Rome.
This promise is important because Paul does not yet know how he will reach Rome, but the events that follow show how God will use Roman protection to move him there.
The next morning, more than forty men form a secret conspiracy and swear that they will not eat or drink until they have killed Paul.
They ask the Jewish leaders to request another hearing for Paul, planning to attack him during the journey from the Roman barracks to the council.
However, Paul's nephew hears about the plan and comes to the Roman barracks to warn him.
Paul sends the young man to the Roman commander, who listens carefully and discovers the details of the assassination plan.
The commander immediately takes action and orders a large military escort consisting of soldiers, horsemen, and spearmen to move Paul secretly from Jerusalem to Caesarea during the night.
The large escort shows how seriously the Roman authorities take the threat against Paul and how important it is for them to protect a Roman citizen under their control.
The soldiers successfully transport Paul to Antipatris, after which the horsemen continue with him to Caesarea while the rest of the soldiers return to Jerusalem.
Paul is then delivered to Governor Felix, along with an official letter explaining why he has been transferred.
The Roman commander explains that Paul had been accused of matters involving Jewish law but that he could not find evidence that Paul had committed a crime deserving death or imprisonment under Roman law.
Felix agrees to hear the case when Paul's accusers arrive and orders Paul to remain in Herod's palace under guard.
The central message of Acts 23 is that God continues to protect Paul and guide him toward the mission Jesus has given him, even when powerful people are trying to silence him.
Paul faces opposition from religious leaders, angry crowds, political authorities, and a carefully organized assassination plot, yet none of these threats are able to stop the mission that Jesus has promised will continue in Rome.
The chapter also shows Paul's wisdom in dealing with difficult situations, because he recognizes the theological differences between the Pharisees and Sadducees and uses the issue of resurrection to reveal that his case is connected to a central belief of the Christian faith.
Historically, the chapter gives an important picture of the Jewish council, the Roman military presence in Jerusalem, and the relationship between Jewish religious authorities and Roman government officials.
It also introduces Governor Felix, who controlled Judea from Caesarea and would later hear Paul's case several times.
The movement from Jerusalem to Caesarea is important because Paul's story is now moving away from the Jewish religious court and increasingly into the Roman legal system.
The chapter ends with Paul safely in Caesarea, but still imprisoned, showing that God's protection does not always mean immediate freedom; instead, Paul remains under guard while continuing toward the larger purpose of giving his testimony about Jesus.
Acts 23 therefore connects faith, courage, divine protection, Roman law, and Paul's mission to Rome, showing that even a carefully planned attempt to kill Paul cannot prevent the next stage of his journey.