Atos 23

1 E, pondo Paulo os olhos no conselho, disse: Homens irmãos, até ao dia de hoje tenho andado diante de Deus com toda a boa consciência.

2 Mas o sumo sacerdote, Ananias, mandou aos que estavam junto dele que o ferissem na boca. 3 Então Paulo lhe disse: Deus te ferirá, parede branqueada; tu estás aqui assentado para julgar-me conforme a lei, e contra a lei me mandas ferir?

4 E os que ali estavam disseram: Injurias o sumo sacerdote de Deus?

5 E Paulo disse: Não sabia, irmãos, que era o sumo sacerdote; porque está escrito: Não dirás mal do príncipe do teu povo.

6 E Paulo, sabendo que uma parte era de saduceus e outra de fariseus, clamou no conselho: Homens irmãos, eu sou fariseu, filho de fariseu; no tocante à esperança e ressurreição dos mortos sou julgado.

7 E, havendo dito isto, houve dissensão entre os fariseus e saduceus; e a multidão se dividiu. 8 Porque os saduceus dizem que não há ressurreição, nem anjo, nem espírito; mas os fariseus reconhecem uma e outra coisa. 9 E originou-se um grande clamor; e, levantando-se os escribas da parte dos fariseus, contendiam, dizendo: Nenhum mal achamos neste homem, e, se algum espírito ou anjo lhe falou, não lutemos contra Deus.

10 E, havendo grande dissensão, o tribuno, temendo que Paulo fosse despedaçado por eles, mandou descer a tropa, para que o tirassem do meio deles, e o levassem para a fortaleza.

O Senhor se manifesta a Paulo

11 E na noite seguinte, apresentando-se-lhe o Senhor, disse: Paulo, tem ânimo; porque, como de mim testificaste em Jerusalém, assim importa que testifiques também em Roma.

A cilada dos judeus

12 E, quando já era dia, alguns dos judeus fizeram uma conspiração, e juraram, dizendo que não comeriam nem beberiam enquanto não matassem a Paulo. 13 E eram mais de quarenta os que fizeram esta conjuração. 14 E estes foram ter com os principais sacerdotes e anciãos, e disseram: Conjuramo-nos, sob pena de maldição, a nada provarmos até que matemos a Paulo.

15 Agora, pois, vós, com o conselho, notificai ao tribuno que vo-lo traga amanhã, como que querendo saber mais alguma coisa de seus negócios, e, antes que chegue, estaremos prontos para o matar.

16 E o filho da irmã de Paulo, tendo ouvido acerca desta cilada, foi, e entrou na fortaleza, e o anunciou a Paulo. 17 E Paulo, chamando a si um dos centuriões, disse: Leva este jovem ao tribuno, porque tem alguma coisa que lhe comunicar.

18 Tomando-o ele, pois, o levou ao tribuno, e disse: O preso Paulo, chamando-me a si, rogou-me que trouxesse este jovem, que tem alguma coisa para dizer-te.

19 E o tribuno, tomando-o pela mão, e pondo-se à parte, perguntou-lhe em particular: Que tens que me contar?

20 E disse ele: Os judeus se concertaram rogar-te que amanhã leves Paulo ao conselho, como que tendo de inquirir dele mais alguma coisa ao certo.

21 Mas tu não os creias; porque mais de quarenta homens de entre eles lhe andam armando ciladas; os quais se obrigaram, sob pena de maldição, a não comer nem beber até que o tenham morto; e já estão preparados, esperando de ti promessa.

22 Então o tribuno despediu o jovem, mandando-lhe que a ninguém dissesse que lhe havia contado aquilo. 23 E, chamando dois centuriões, lhes disse: Aprontai para as três horas da noite duzentos soldados, e setenta de cavalaria, e duzentos arqueiros para irem até Cesareia;

24 E aparelhai animais, para que, pondo neles a Paulo, o levem salvo ao presidente Félix.

A carta de Cláudio enviada a Félix

25 E escreveu uma carta, que continha isto:

26 Cláudio Lísias, a Félix, potentíssimo presidente, saúde.

27 Esse homem foi preso pelos judeus; e, estando já a ponto de ser morto por eles, sobrevim eu com a tropa, e o livrei, informado de que era romano. 28 E, querendo saber a causa por que o acusavam, o levei ao seu conselho. 29 E achei que o acusavam de algumas questões da sua lei; mas que nenhum crime havia nele digno de morte ou de prisão. 30 E, sendo-me notificado que os judeus haviam de armar ciladas a esse homem, logo to enviei, mandando também aos acusadores que perante ti digam o que tiverem contra ele. Passa bem.

Paulo no palácio de Herodes

31 Tomando, pois, os soldados a Paulo, como lhe fora mandado, o trouxeram de noite a Antipátride. 32 E no dia seguinte, deixando aos de cavalo irem com ele, tornaram à fortaleza. 33 Os quais, logo que chegaram a Cesareia, e entregaram a carta ao presidente, lhe apresentaram Paulo. 34 E o presidente, lida a carta, perguntou de que província era; e, sabendo que era da Cilícia, 35 Disse: Ouvir-te-ei, quando também aqui vierem os teus acusadores. E mandou que o guardassem no pretório de Herodes.

1 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. 2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth. 3 Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law? 4 And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God’s high priest? 5 Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people. 6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. 7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. 9 And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees’ part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God. 10 And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle. 11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome. 12 And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. 13 And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy. 14 And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul. 15 Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him. 16 And when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul. 17 Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him. 18 So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee. 19 Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that thou hast to tell me? 20 And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly. 21 But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee. 22 So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast shewed these things to me. 23 And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Cæsarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night; 24 And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor. 25 And he wrote a letter after this manner: 26 Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting. 27 This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman. 28 And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council: 29 Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds. 30 And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell. 31 Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle: 33 Who, when they came to Cæsarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him. 34 And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia; 35 I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s judgment hall.