\subsection{Acts 23}
\VS{1} So Paul having looked intently to the council said: Men, brothers, I in all 
good conscience have led my life in\footnote{or ``for'', ``by''} God until 
this day. 
\VS{2} But the chief priest Ananias ordered those standing around 
to be striking his mouth. 
\VS{3} Then Paul said: God is [about] to be striking you, 
[O] white-washed wall, for you would sit judging me according to the law, and 
breaking the law you order me to be being struck? 
\VS{4} So those standing 
by said: You revile the chief-priest of God? 
\VS{5} And Paul said: I did not 
know, brothers, that he is chief-priest, for it is written\footnote{Ex.22:28}: 

\begin{verse}
You will not speak evil-ly of the ruler [of your] people.
\end{verse}

\VS{6} Now Paul having known that the one part is Sadducees and the other 
Pharisees he was crying out in the council: Men, brothers, I am [a] Pharisee, 
son of Pharisees. Concerning [the] hope and resurrection of the dead am I judged. 
\VS{7} Now while he was saying this, strife came to pass [between] the Pharisees and 
the Sadducees, and the multitude was divided. 
\VS{8} For the Sadduccees say 
there is no resurrection nor angel nor spirit, but the Pharisees profess 
these [things]. 
\VS{9} So [a] great clamor came to pass, and having arisen, some of the 
scribes of the part of the Pharisees contended sharply saying: We find 
nothing evil in this man. Perhaps [a] spirit spoke to him or [an] angel. 
\VS{10} Now 
great strife having come to pass, the commander being afraid lest Paul be 
torn apart by them, he ordered the army having gone down to seize him from 
their midst and to be bringing [him] to the military base. 
\VS{11} Now on the 
next night the Lord having stood before him said: Be taking courage, for as 
I testified the [things] concerning me to Jerusalem, thus must you also witness to 
Rome. 
\VS{12} Now when day came to pass, the Jews, having made [a] plot, cursed 
themselves, saying [they would] neither eat nor drink until they kill Paul. 
\VS{13} Now 
these having made the conspiracy were more than forty, 
\VS{14} who having 
gone to the chief priests and the elders said: We have cursed ourselves with 
[a] curse, to taste nothing until we kill Paul. 
\VS{15} Now therefore you 
inform the commander with the council that he bring him down to us as 
intending to be determining carefully\footnote{or ``accurately''} the 
[facts] concerning him. But we before he draws nigh are prepared to do away with 
him. 
\VS{16} Now the son of Paul's sister having heard [of] the ambush, having 
arrived and having gone in to the military base, he reported [it] to Paul. 
\VS{17} So Paul having called upon one of the centurions said: Be bringing 
this youth to the commander, for he has something to be reporting to him. 
\VS{18} Indeed therefore having taken him, he brought [him] to the commander and 
said: The prisoner Paul, having called upon me, asked\fnErotao{} [me] to be bringing this 
youth to you, having something to speak to you. 
\VS{19} So having laid his 
hand upon him the commander also having withdrawn privately inquired: What 
is it you have to be reporting to me? 
\VS{20} So he said that: The Jews have 
agreed to ask\fnErotao{} you that tomorrow you bring down Paul to the council as 
intending to be inquiring carefully concerning him. 
\VS{21} You therefore 
should not be persuaded by them, for more than forty men from them will 
ambush him, who have cursed themselves neither to eat nor drink until they 
do away with him, and now they are prepared, expecting from you the promise. 
\VS{22} Indeed therefore the commander dismissed the youth, having commanded 
[him] to: Speak to no one that you have informed me of these [things]. 
\VS{23} And having 
summoned a certain two of the centurions, he said: Prepare two hundred 
soldiers in order that they go to Caesarea, and seventy horsemen and two 
hundred bowmen\footnote{or ``slingers''}, from the third hour of the night, 
\VS{24} and to present [a] packhorse, in order that having placed Paul upon it 
they save him to Felix the ruler, 
\VS{25} Having written [a] letter having this 
content:

\VS{26} Claudios Lucias to the noblest ruler Felix --- greetings. 
\VS{27} 
This man, having been arrested by the Jews and [about] to be done away with by 
them, having drawn near with [my] army I delivered [him], having learned that he is 
Roman. 
\VS{28} And intending to know the reason for which they were accusing 
him, I brought him down to the council, 
\VS{29} whom I found they were 
accusing concerning questions of their [religious] law, and having no accusation worthy 
of death or bonds. 
\VS{30} So when [a] plot was revealed to me to be against 
[this] man, at once I sent [him] to you, having also directed the accusers to be 
speaking with him before you. 

\VS{31} Indeed therefore the soldiers according to the [orders] commanded to them, 
having taken Paul, they brought [him] through the night to Antipatrida. 
\VS{32} 
Now on the morrow having permitted the horsemen to be going forth with him, 
they returned to the base, 
\VS{33} who having gone in to Caesarea and having 
delivered the letter to the ruler, they also presented Paul to him. 
\VS{34} 
So having read [it] and having asked from which province he is, and having 
inquired that he is from Kilikia: 
\VS{35} I will give you [a] hearing, he said, 
when your accusers are also present; having ordered him to be guarded in the 
Praetorium of Herod.
