de Biblica1Fitando o conselho, Paulo começou por dizer: “Irmãos, tenho sempre vivido diante de Deus com a consciência limpa!”2Logo Ananias, o sumo sacerdote, mandou aos que se encontravam junto de Paulo que lhe batessem na boca.3Paulo disse-lhe então: “Deus te castigará, hipócrita! Que espécie de juiz és, para me julgares segundo a Lei, mas violares a Lei ordenando que me batam?”4Os que estavam perto de Paulo disseram-lhe: “É assim que falas ao sumo sacerdote de Deus?”5“Não sabia que era o sumo sacerdote, irmãos!”, respondeu Paulo. “Pois as Escrituras dizem: ‘Nunca fales mal de um líder do teu povo!’ ”6Entretanto, Paulo sabendo que o conselho era formado em parte por saduceus e em parte por fariseus, disse bem alto: “Irmãos, sou fariseu, como o foram todos os meus antepassados. E se hoje estou aqui a ser julgado é porque acredito na ressurreição dos mortos!”7Com estas palavras, imediatamente se dividiu o tribunal, fariseus contra saduceus;8pois estes últimos dizem que não há ressurreição, nem anjos, nem espírito, mas os fariseus acreditam em todas estas coisas.9Houve, pois, grande confusão e alguns dos especialistas na Lei, do partido dos fariseus, levantaram uma forte contestação, dizendo: “Nada vemos de culpa nele!”, gritavam. “Pode muito bem ser que um espírito ou um anjo lhe tenha falado!”10O tumulto foi tal que o comandante, receoso que o despedaçassem, ordenou aos soldados que o tirassem dali pela força e o levassem novamente para a fortaleza.11Naquela noite, o Senhor apareceu junto de Paulo e disse-lhe: “Nada receies, Paulo! Assim como me anunciaste ao povo aqui em Jerusalém, também o farás em Roma.”
O plano para matar Paulo
12Na manhã seguinte, os judeus juntaram-se e fizeram um juramento de não comer nem beber até que tivessem matado Paulo.13Os que participaram na conspiração eram mais de quarenta homens.14Seguidamente, foram ter com os principais sacerdotes e com os anciãos do povo, dizendo-lhes o que tinham feito. “Fizemos um juramento, sob pena de maldição, de não comer até termos matado Paulo.15Portanto, peçam ao comandante que torne a trazer Paulo à vossa presença, sob pretexto de colher informações mais precisas sobre ele”, rogaram. “Quanto a nós, trataremos de matá-lo no caminho antes de aqui chegar.”16Contudo, o filho da irmã de Paulo teve conhecimento deste plano e foi à fortaleza avisar o tio.17Paulo, chamando um dos oficiais, disse: “Leva este rapaz ao comandante, porque tem uma coisa importante a revelar-lhe.”18O oficial assim fez, explicando: “Paulo, o prisioneiro, chamou-me e pediu-me para trazer aqui este jovem que tem qualquer coisa a revelar.”19O comandante pegou no rapaz pela mão e, levando-o à parte, perguntou-lhe: “Que me queres dizer?”20O sobrinho de Paulo disse-lhe: “Amanhã os judeus planeiam pedir-lhe que conduzas Paulo à presença do conselho dos anciãos com o pretexto de obterem mais algumas informações.21Mas não te deixes convencer por isso! Há mais de quarenta homens, numa emboscada no caminho, prontos para o matar. Juraram não comer nem beber sem o liquidar primeiro. Já lá estão, esperando que o seu pedido seja atendido.”22“Que ninguém saiba que me contaste isto!”, avisou o comandante, mandando o rapaz embora.
Paulo é levado para Cesareia
23Seguidamente, chamou dois dos seus oficiais e ordenou: “Destaquem duzentos soldados, mais duzentos lanceiros e setenta homens de cavalaria, para que estejam prontos para partir para Cesareia às nove horas da noite!24Deem uma montada a Paulo e conduzam-no em segurança ao governador Félix.”25Escreveu também uma carta ao governador.26Cláudio Lísias, para Sua Excelência, o Governador Félix. Saudações!27Este homem foi detido pelos judeus. Estavam a ponto de o matar quando enviei soldados para o livrar, pois soube que era cidadão romano.28Depois, levei-o perante o conselho dos anciãos para procurar saber qual o delito de que o acusavam.29Descobri que se tratava de questões respeitantes à Lei judaica, sem haver nenhuma acusação que merecesse prisão ou morte.30Quando, porém, fui informado duma conspiração para o matar, resolvi mandá-lo à tua presença, para que os acusadores apresentem a sua queixa.31Naquela noite, de acordo com as ordens dadas, os soldados levaram Paulo para Antipátride.32Na manhã seguinte, permitiram que a cavalaria partisse com ele e regressaram à fortaleza.33Quando chegaram a Cesareia, entregaram a carta ao governador e apresentaram-lhe Paulo.34Depois de a ler, este perguntou a Paulo de onde era. “Da Cilícia”, respondeu.35“Quando os teus acusadores chegarem, estudarei o caso a fundo”, disse-lhe o governador, mandando que o metessem na prisão no palácio do rei Herodes.
Atos 23
English Standard Version
de Crossway1And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.” (Jó 27:5; At 24:16; 1 Co 4:4; 2 Co 1:12; 2 Co 4:2; 2 Co 5:11; 2 Tm 1:3; Hb 13:18)2And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. (1 Rs 22:24; Lm 3:30; Mq 5:1; At 24:1; 2 Co 11:20)3Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?” (Dt 25:1; Is 30:13; Ez 13:10; Mt 23:27; Jo 7:51)4Those who stood by said, “Would you revile God’s high priest?” (1 Sm 2:28; Sl 106:16)5And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’” (Ex 22:28; At 24:1)6Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.” (Mt 22:23; At 2:26; At 24:15; At 24:21; At 26:5; At 26:6; At 28:20; Fp 3:5; Cl 1:5)7And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.8For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. (Lc 20:27; 1 Co 15:12)9Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ party stood up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?” (Mc 2:16; Lc 5:30; Jo 12:29; At 4:5; At 22:7; At 22:17; At 23:29)10And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks. (At 21:34; At 22:24; At 23:16; At 23:32)11The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” (1 Sm 3:10; At 18:9; At 19:21; At 22:15; At 27:23; 2 Tm 4:17)
A Plot to Kill Paul
12When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. (At 23:14; At 23:21; At 23:30)13There were more than forty who made this conspiracy.14They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul.15Now therefore you, along with the council, give notice to the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes near.”16Now the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, so he went and entered the barracks and told Paul. (At 23:10; At 23:32)17Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him.”18So he took him and brought him to the tribune and said, “Paul the prisoner called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, as he has something to say to you.” (Ef 3:1)19The tribune took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?”20And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more closely about him. (At 23:14)21But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him, who have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him. And now they are ready, waiting for your consent.” (At 23:12; At 23:14)22So the tribune dismissed the young man, charging him, “Tell no one that you have informed me of these things.”
Paul Sent to Felix the Governor
23Then he called two of the centurions and said, “Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night.[1]24Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to Felix the governor.” (Lc 20:20; At 23:26; At 23:33; At 24:1; At 24:2; At 24:10; At 25:14; At 26:30)25And he wrote a letter to this effect:26“Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings. (At 15:23; At 24:1)27This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen. (At 21:27; At 21:32; At 22:25)28And desiring to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council. (At 22:30)29I found that he was being accused about questions of their law, but charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment. (At 18:15; At 23:9; At 25:19; At 25:25; At 26:31; At 28:18)30And when it was disclosed to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him.” (At 9:24; At 23:12; At 23:20; At 23:35; At 24:19; At 25:16)31So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.32And on the next day they returned to the barracks, letting the horsemen go on with him. (At 23:10; At 23:16)33When they had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him.34On reading the letter, he asked what province he was from. And when he learned that he was from Cilicia, (At 21:39; At 25:1)35he said, “I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive.” And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod’s praetorium. (Mt 27:27; At 23:30)