Ma'ashym (Acts) — 23
1 Gazing intently at the high council, Shaul began: “Brothers, I have always lived before 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH with a clear conscience!”
2 Instantly Ananyas the high Kuhan commanded those close to Shaul to slap him on the mouth.
3 But Shaul said to him, “𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH will slap you, because you are a corrupt hypocrite! What kind of judge are you to break the law yourself by ordering me struck like that?”
4 Those standing near Shaul said to him, “Do you dare to insult 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH’s high Kuhan?”
5 “I am sorry, brothers. I did not realize he was the high Kuhan,” Shaul replied, “for the Scriptures say, ‘You must not speak evil of any of your rulers.’”
6 Shaul realized that some members of the high council were Sadducees and some were Pharisees, so he shouted, Achks “(Brothers), I am a Pharisee, as were my ancestors! And I am on trial because my hope is in the resurrection of the dead!”
7 This divided the council, the Pharisees against the Sadducees
8 for the Sadducees say there is no resurrection or Malakym or ruach, but the Pharisees believe in all of these.
9 So there was a great uproar. Some of the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees jumped up and began to argue forcefully. “We see nothing wrong with him,” they shouted. “Perhaps a Ruach or a Malak spoke to him.”
10 As the conflict grew more violent, the commander was afraid they would tear Shaul apart. So he ordered his soldiers to go and rescue him by force and take him back to the fortress.
11 That night 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏_YAHUSHA appeared to Shaul and said, “Be encouraged, Shaul. Just as you have been a witness to me here in Yahushalam, you must preach the Good News in Rome as well.”
The Plan to Kill Shaul
12 The next morning a group of Yahudym got together and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Shaul.
13 There were more than forty of them in the conspiracy.
14 They went to the leading Kuhanym and elders and told them, “We have bound ourselves with an oath to eat nothing until we have killed Shaul.
15 So you and the high council should ask the commander to bring Shaul back to the council again. Pretend you want to examine his case more fully. We will kill him on the way.”
16 But Shaul’s nephew, his sister’s son heard of their plan and went to the fortress and told Shaul.
17 Shaul called for one of the Roman officers and said, “Take this young man to the commander. He has something important to tell him.”
18 So the officer took him to the Commander, and he said, “Shaul, the prisoner, called me over and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.”
19 The commander took his hand, led him aside, and asked, “What is it you want to tell me?”
20 Shaul’s nephew told him, “Some Yahudym are going to ask you to bring Shaul before the high council tomorrow, pretending they want to get some more information.
21 But do not do it! There are more than forty men hiding along the way ready to ambush Shaul. They have vowed not to eat or drink anything until they have killed Shaul. They are ready now, just waiting for your consent.”
22 “Do not let anyone know you told me this,” the commander warned the young man.
Shaul Is Sent to Caesarea
23 Then the commander called two of his officers and ordered, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night;
24 And provide horses for Shaul to ride, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.”
25 He wrote a letter in the following manner:
26 “From Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings!
27 “This man was seized by some Yahudym, and they were about to kill him, then I arrived with the troops. When I learned that he was a Roman citizen, I removed him to safety.
28 Then I took him to their high council to try to learn the basis of the accusations against him.
29 I soon discovered the charge was something regarding their religious law, certainly nothing worthy of imprisonment or death.
30 But when I was informed of a plot to kill him, I immediately sent him on to you. I have told his accusers to bring their charges before you.”
31 So that night, as ordered, the soldiers took Shaul as far as Antipatris.
32 They returned to the fortress the next morning, while the mounted troops took Shaul on to Caesarea.
33 When they arrived in Caesarea, they presented Shaul and the letter to Governor Felix.
34 He read it and then asked Shaul what province he was from. And Shaul said. “Cilicia,”
35 “I will hear your case myself when your accusers arrive,” the governor told him. Then the governor ordered him kept in the prison at Harud’s headquarters.