Acts 23 Summary

Paul stands before the council claiming to have lived with a clear conscience, and the high priest Ananias orders him struck on the mouth. Paul rebukes him, calling him a whitewashed wall, then claims not to have known he was the high priest. Perceiving the council contains both Sadducees and Pharisees, Paul declares himself a Pharisee judged for the hope of resurrection, causing dissension between the two sects. The Pharisaic scribes defend Paul, saying they find no evil in him, while disorder erupts and the chief captain removes him to the castle. That night, the Lord tells Paul he will testify at Rome as he has at Jerusalem. A conspiracy of over forty Jews bind themselves under oath to kill Paul, planning to ambush him when the chief priests summon him before the council. Paul's nephew discovers the plot and warns the chief captain, who immediately dispatches over two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to escort Paul safely to Caesarea to Governor Felix.