Atti degli Apostoli 23

1E Paolo, fissati gli occhi nel Sinedrio, disse: Fratelli, fino a questo giorno, mi son condotto dinanzi a Dio in tutta buona coscienza. 2E il sommo sacerdote Anania comandò a coloro ch’eran presso a lui di percuoterlo sulla bocca. 3Allora Paolo gli disse: Iddio percoterà te, parete scialbata; tu siedi per giudicarmi secondo la legge, e violando la legge comandi che io sia percosso? 4E coloro ch’eran quivi presenti, dissero: Ingiurii tu il sommo sacerdote di Dio? 5E Paolo disse: Fratelli, io non sapevo che fosse sommo sacerdote; perché sta scritto: "Non dirai male del principe del tuo popolo". 6Or Paolo, sapendo che una parte eran Sadducei e l’altra Farisei, esclamò nel Sinedrio: Fratelli, io son Fariseo, figliuol di Farisei; ed è a motivo della speranza e della risurrezione dei morti, che son chiamato in giudizio. 7E com’ebbe detto questo, nacque contesa tra i Farisei e i Sadducei, e l’assemblea fu divisa. 8Poiché i Sadducei dicono che non v’è risurrezione, né angelo, né spirito; mentre i Farisei affermano l’una e l’altra cosa. 9E si fece un gridar grande; e alcuni degli scribi del partito de’ Farisei, levatisi, cominciarono a disputare, dicendo: Noi non troviamo male alcuno in quest’uomo; e se gli avesse parlato uno spirito o un angelo? 10E facendosi forte la contesa, il tribuno, temendo che Paolo non fosse da loro fatto a pezzi, comandò ai soldati di scendere giù, e di portarlo via dal mezzo di loro, e di menarlo nella fortezza. 11E la notte seguente il Signore si presentò a Paolo, e gli disse: Sta’ di buon cuore; perché come hai reso testimonianza di me a Gerusalemme, così bisogna che tu la renda anche a Roma. 12E quando fu giorno, i Giudei s’adunarono, e con imprecazioni contro sé stessi fecer voto di non mangiare né bere finché non avessero ucciso Paolo. 13Or coloro che avean fatta questa congiura eran più di quaranta. 14E vennero ai capi sacerdoti e agli anziani, e dissero: Noi abbiam fatto voto con imprecazione contro noi stessi, di non mangiare cosa alcuna, finché non abbiam ucciso Paolo. 15Or dunque voi col Sinedrio presentatevi al tribuno per chiedergli di menarlo giù da voi, come se voleste conoscer più esattamente il fatto suo; e noi, innanzi ch’ei giunga, siam pronti ad ucciderlo. 16Ma il figliuolo della sorella di Paolo, udite queste insidie, venne; ed entrato nella fortezza, riferì la cosa a Paolo. 17E Paolo, chiamato a sé uno dei centurioni, disse: Mena questo giovane al tribuno, perché ha qualcosa da riferirgli. 18Egli dunque, presolo, lo menò al tribuno, e disse: Paolo, il prigione, mi ha chiamato e m’ha pregato che ti meni questo giovane, il quale ha qualcosa da dirti. 19E il tribuno, presolo per la mano e ritiratosi in disparte gli domando: Che cos’hai da riferirmi? 20Ed egli rispose: I Giudei si son messi d’accordo per pregarti che domani tu meni giù Paolo nel Sinedrio, come se volessero informarsi più appieno del fatto suo; 21ma tu non dar loro retta, perché più di quaranta uomini di loro gli tendono insidie e con imprecazioni contro sé stessi han fatto voto di non mangiare né bere, finché non l’abbiano ucciso; ed ora son pronti, aspettando la tua promessa. 22Il tribuno dunque licenziò il giovane, ordinandogli di non palesare ad alcuno che gli avesse fatto saper queste cose. 23E chiamati due de’ centurioni, disse loro: Tenete pronti fino dalla terza ora della notte duecento soldati, settanta cavalieri e duecento lancieri, per andar fino a Cesarea; 24e abbiate pronte delle cavalcature per farvi montar su Paolo e condurlo sano e salvo al governatore Felice. 25E scrisse una lettera del seguente tenore: 26Claudio Lisia, all’eccellentissimo governatore Felice, salute. 27Quest’uomo era stato preso dai Giudei, ed era sul punto d’esser da loro ucciso, quand’io son sopraggiunto coi soldati e l’ho sottratto dalle loro mani, avendo inteso che era Romano. 28E volendo sapere di che l’accusavano, l’ho menato nel loro Sinedrio. 29E ho trovato che era accusato intorno a questioni della loro legge, ma che non era incolpato di nulla che fosse degno di morte o di prigione. 30Essendomi però stato riferito che si tenderebbe un agguato contro quest’uomo, l’ho subito mandato a te, ordinando anche ai suoi accusatori di dir davanti a te quello che hanno contro di lui. 31I soldati dunque, secondo ch’era loro stato ordinato, presero Paolo e lo condussero di notte ad Antipatrìda. 32E il giorno seguente, lasciati partire i cavalieri con lui, tornarono alla fortezza. 33E quelli, giunti a Cesarea e consegnata la lettera al governatore, gli presentarono anche Paolo. 34Ed egli avendo letta la lettera e domandato a Paolo di qual provincia fosse, e inteso che era di Cilicia, gli disse: 35Io ti udirò meglio quando saranno arrivati anche i tuoi accusatori. E comandò che fosse custodito nel palazzo d’Erode.

1Paul, looking steadfastly at the council, said, “Brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day.” 2The high priest, Ananias, commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. 3Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to judge me according to the law, and command me to be struck contrary to the law?” 4Those who stood by said, “Do you malign God’s high priest?” 5Paul said, “I didn’t know, brothers, that he was high priest. For it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’” 6But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. Concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!” 7When he had said this, an argument arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess all of these. 9A great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees part stood up, and contended, saying, “We find no evil in this man. But if a spirit or angel has spoken to him, let’s not fight against God!” 10When a great argument arose, the commanding officer, fearing that Paul would be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks. 11The following night, the Lord stood by him, and said, “Cheer up, Paul, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must testify also at Rome.” 12When it was day, some of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. 13There were more than forty people who had made this conspiracy. 14They came to the chief priests and the elders, and said, “We have bound ourselves under a great curse, to taste nothing until we have killed Paul. 15Now therefore, you with the council inform the commanding officer that he should bring him down to you tomorrow, as though you were going to judge his case more exactly. We are ready to kill him before he comes near.” 16But Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, and he came and entered into the barracks and told Paul. 17Paul summoned one of the centurions, and said, “Bring this young man to the commanding officer, for he has something to tell him.” 18So he took him, and brought him to the commanding officer, and said, “Paul, the prisoner, summoned me and asked me to bring this young man to you, who has something to tell you.” 19The commanding officer took him by the hand, and going aside, asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?” 20He said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though intending to inquire somewhat more accurately concerning him. 21Therefore don’t yield to them, for more than forty men lie in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse neither to eat nor to drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, looking for the promise from you.” 22So the commanding officer let the young man go, charging him, “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.” 23He called to himself two of the centurions, and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, with seventy horsemen, and two hundred men armed with spears, at the third hour of the night.” 24He asked them to provide animals, that they might set Paul on one, and bring him safely to Felix the governor. 25He wrote a letter like this: 26“Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings. 27“This man was seized by the Jews, and was about to be killed by them, when I came with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman. 28Desiring to know the cause why they accused him, I brought him down to their council. 29I found him to be accused about questions of their law, but not to be charged with anything worthy of death or of imprisonment. 30When I was told that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him to you immediately, charging his accusers also to bring their accusations against him before you. Farewell.” 31So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32But on the next day they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the barracks. 33When they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. 34When the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. When he understood that he was from Cilicia, he said, 35“I will hear you fully when your accusers also arrive.” He commanded that he be kept in Herod’s palace.

1En Paulus, de ogen op den raad houdende, zeide: Mannen broeders! ik heb met alle goed geweten voor God gewandeld tot op dezen dag. 2Maar de hogepriester Ananias beval dengenen, die bij hem stonden, dat zij hem op den mond zouden slaan. 3Toen zeide Paulus tot hem: God zal u slaan, gij gewitte wand! Zit gij ook om mij te oordelen naar de wet, en beveelt gij, tegen de wet, dat men mij zal slaan? 4En die daarbij stonden, zeiden: Scheldt gij den hogepriester Gods? 5En Paulus zeide: Ik wist niet, broeders! dat het de hogepriester was; want er is geschreven: Den overste uws volks zult gij niet vloeken. 6En Paulus wetende dat het ene deel was van de Sadduceen, en het andere van de Farizeen, riep in den raad: Mannen broeders, ik ben een Farizeer, eens Farizeers zoon; ik word over de hoop en opstanding der doden geoordeeld. 7En als hij dit gesproken had, ontstond er tweedracht tussen de Farizeen en de Sadduceen, en de menigte werd verdeeld. 8Want de Sadduceen zeggen, dat er geen opstanding is, noch engel, noch geest, maar de Farizeen belijden het beide. 9En er geschiedde een groot geroep; en de Schriftgeleerden van de zijde der Farizeen stonden op, en streden, zeggende: Wij vinden geen kwaad in dezen mens; en indien een geest tot hem gesproken heeft, of een engel, laat ons tegen God niet strijden. 10En als er grote tweedracht ontstaan was, de overste, vrezende, dat Paulus van hen verscheurd mocht worden, gebood, dat het krijgsvolk zou afkomen, en hem uit het midden van hen wegrukken, en in de legerplaats brengen. 11En den volgenden nacht stond de Heere bij hem, en zeide: Heb goeden moed, Paulus, want gelijk gij te Jeruzalem van Mij betuigd hebt alzo moet gij ook te Rome getuigen. 12En als het dag geworden was, maakten sommigen van de Joden een samenrotting, en vervloekten zichzelven, zeggende, dat zij noch eten noch drinken zouden, totdat zij Paulus zouden gedood hebben. 13En zij waren meer dan veertig, die dezen eed te zamen gedaan hadden; 14Dewelke gingen tot de overpriesters en de ouderlingen, en zeiden: Wij hebben ons zelven met vervloeking vervloekt, niets te zullen nuttigen, totdat wij Paulus zullen gedood hebben. 15Gij dan nu, laat den overste weten met den raad, dat hij hem morgen tot u afbrenge, alsof gij nadere kennis zoudt nemen van zijn zaken; en wij zijn bereid hem om te brengen, eer hij bij u komt. 16En als de zoon van Paulus' zuster deze lage gehoord had, kwam hij daar, en ging in de legerplaats, en boodschapte het Paulus. 17En Paulus riep tot zich een van de hoofdmannen over honderd, en zeide: Leid dezen jongeling heen tot den overste; want hij heeft hem wat te boodschappen. 18Deze dan nam hem en bracht hem tot den overste, en zeide: Paulus, de gevangene, heeft mij tot zich geroepen, en begeerd, dat ik dezen jongeling tot u zou brengen, die u wat heeft te zeggen. 19De overste nu nam hem bij de hand, en bezijden gegaan zijnde, vraagde hij: Wat is het dat gij mij hebt te boodschappen? 20En hij zeide: De Joden zijn overeengekomen, om van u te begeren, dat gij Paulus morgen in den raad zoudt afbrengen, alsof zij iets van hem nader zouden onderzoeken. 21Doch geloof hen niet; want meer dan veertig mannen uit hen leggen hem lagen, welke zichzelven met een vervloeking verbonden hebben noch te eten noch te drinken, totdat zij hem zullen omgebracht hebben; en zij zijn nu gereed, verwachtende de toezegging van u. 22De overste dan liet den jongeling gaan, hem gebiedende: Zeg niemand voort, dat gij mij zulks geopenbaard hebt. 23En zekere twee van de hoofdmannen over honderd tot zich geroepen hebbende, zeide hij: Maakt tweehonderd krijgsknechten gereed, opdat zij naar Cesarea trekken, en zeventig ruiters, en tweehonderd schutters, tegen de derde ure des nachts; 24En laat ze zadel beesten bestellen, opdat zij Paulus daarop zetten, en behouden overbrengen tot den stadhouder Felix. 25En hij schreef een brief, hebbende dezen inhoud: 26Claudius Lysias aan den machtigsten stadhouder Felix groetenis. 27Alzo deze man van de Joden gegrepen was, en van hen omgebracht zou geworden zijn, ben ik daarover gekomen met het krijgsvolk, en heb hem hun ontnomen, bericht zijnde, dat hij een Romein is. 28En willende de zaak weten, waarover zij hem beschuldigden, bracht ik hem af in hun raad; 29Welken ik bevond beschuldigd te worden over vragen hunner wet; maar geen beschuldiging tegen hem te zijn, die den dood of banden waardig is. 30En als mij te kennen gegeven was, dat van de Joden een lage tegen deze man gelegd zou worden, zo heb ik hem terstond aan u gezonden; gebiedende ook den beschuldigers voor u te zeggen, hetgeen zij tegen hem hadden. Vaarwel. 31De krijgsknechten dan, gelijk hun bevolen was, namen Paulus, en brachten hem des nachts tot Antipatris. 32En des anderen daags, latende de ruiters met hem trekken, keerden zij wederom naar de legerplaats. 33Dewelken als zij te Cesarea gekomen waren, en den brief den stadhouder overgeleverd hadden, hebben zij ook Paulus voor hem gesteld. 34En de stadhouder, den brief gelezen hebbende, vraagde, uit wat provincie hij was; en verstaande, dat hij van Cilicie was, 35Zeide hij: Ik zal u horen, als ook uw beschuldigers hier zullen gekomen zijn. En hij beval, dat hij in het rechthuis van Herodes zou bewaard worden.