Paul Before the Sanhedrin

¹ And looking intently at the Sanhedrin, Paul said, “Men and brothers, I have lived my life in all good conscience before God to this day.”

² So the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near him to strike his mouth.

³ Then 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?”

⁴ And those who stood nearby said, “Are you reviling the high priest of God?”

⁵ And 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.’ ”¹

1. A quotation from Exod 22:28

⁶ Now when¹ 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!”

1. *Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“realized”) which is understood as temporal

⁷ And when¹ he said this, a dispute developed between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.

1. *Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“said”)

⁸ (For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection or angel or spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.)

⁹ And there was loud shouting, and some of the scribes from the party of the Pharisees stood up and¹ contended sharply, saying, “We find nothing wrong with this man! But what if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”

1. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“stood up”) has been translated as a finite verb

¹⁰ And when¹ 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 him² into the barracks.³

1. *Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“became”)
2. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
3. Or “headquarters”

¹¹ And the next night the Lord stood by him and¹ said, “Have courage, for as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

1. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“stood by”) has been translated as a finite verb

A Conspiracy to Kill Paul

¹² And when it¹ was day, the Jews made a conspiracy and² bound themselves under a curse, saying they would³ neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.

1. *Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“was”)
2. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“made”) has been translated as a finite verb
3. Literally “saying neither to eat nor to drink”; the words “they would” are supplied for smoother English style

¹³ Now there were more than forty who had made this conspiracy,

¹⁴ who went to the chief priests and the elders and¹ said, “We have bound ourselves under a curse to partake of nothing until we have killed Paul.

1. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“went to”) has been translated as a finite verb

¹⁵ Therefore, now you along with the Sanhedrin explain to the military tribune that he should bring him down to you, as if you were going to determine more accurately the things concerning him. And we are ready to do away with him before he comes near.”

¹⁶ But when¹ the son of Paul’s sister heard about the ambush, he came and entered into the barracks² and³ reported it⁴ to Paul.

1. *Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard about”) which is understood as temporal
2. Or “headquarters”
3. *Here “and” is supplied because the two previous participles (“came” and “entered”) have been translated as finite verbs
4. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation

¹⁷ So Paul called one of the centurions and¹ said, “Bring this young man to the military tribune, because he has something to report to him.”

1. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“called”) has been translated as a finite verb

¹⁸ So he took him and¹ brought him² to the military tribune and said, “The prisoner Paul called me and³ asked me⁴ to bring this young man to you because he⁵ has something to tell you.”

1. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“took”) has been translated as a finite verb
2. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
3. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“called”) has been translated as a finite verb
4. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
5. *Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“has”) which is understood as causal

¹⁹ And the military tribune, taking hold of his hand and withdrawing privately, asked, “What is it that you have to report to me?”

²⁰ And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you that you bring Paul down to the Sanhedrin tomorrow, as if they were going to inquire somewhat more accurately concerning him.

²¹ You therefore do not be persuaded by them, because more than forty men of ⌞their number⌟¹ are lying in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse neither to eat nor to drink until they have done away with him. And now they are ready, waiting for ⌞you to agree⌟.”²

1. Literally “them”
2. Literally “the assurance of agreement from you”

²² So the military tribune sent the young man away, directing him,¹ “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.”

1. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation

²³ And he summoned two of the centurions and¹ said, “Make ready from the third hour of the night two hundred soldiers and seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen,² in order that they may proceed as far as Caesarea.

1. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“summoned”) has been translated as a finite verb
2. A word of uncertain meaning, probably a military technical term

²⁴ And provide mounts so that they can put Paul on them and¹ bring him² safely to Felix the governor.”

1. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“put … on”) has been translated as a finite verb
2. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation

²⁵ ⌞He wrote⌟¹ a letter that had this form:²

1. Literally “writing”
2. Or “content”

²⁶ Claudius Lysias. To his excellency Governor Felix. <block> Greetings!

²⁷ This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them when I¹ came upon them² with the detachment and³ rescued him,⁴ because I⁵ learned that he was a Roman citizen.

1. *Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“came upon”) which is understood as temporal
2. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
3. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“came upon”) has been translated as a finite verb
4. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
5. *Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“learned”) which is understood as causal

²⁸ And because I¹ wanted to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him² down to their Sanhedrin.³

1. *Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“wanted”) which is understood as causal
2. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
3. Or “council”

²⁹ I found ⌞he⌟¹ was accused concerning controversial questions of their law, but having no charge deserving death or imprisonment.

1. Literally “whom”

³⁰ And when it¹ was made known to me there would be a plot against the man, I sent him² to you immediately, also ordering his³ accusers to speak against him⁴ before you. </block>

1. *Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“was made known”) which is understood as temporal
2. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
3. *Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
4. Some manuscripts have “to state the charges against him” (literally, “to speak the things against him”)

³¹ Therefore the soldiers, in accordance with ⌞their orders⌟,¹ took Paul and² brought him³ to Antipatris during the night.

1. Literally “what was ordered to them”
2. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“took”) has been translated as a finite verb
3. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation

³² And on the next day they let the horsemen go on with him, and¹ they returned to the barracks.²

1. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“let”) has been translated as a finite verb
2. Or “headquarters”

³³ ⌞The horsemen⌟,¹ when they² came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, also presented Paul to him.

1. Literally “who”
2. *Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“came”) which is understood as temporal

³⁴ So after¹ reading the letter² and asking what province he was from, and learning that he was from Cilicia,

1. *Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“reading”) which is understood as temporal
2. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation

³⁵ he said, “I will give you a hearing whenever your accusers arrive also,” giving orders for him to be guarded in the praetorium¹ of Herod.

1. The “praetorium” of Herod refers to the palace of Herod the Great in Caesarea Maritima