that he was a Roman, because he had bound him. 022:030 But on the next day, desiring to know the truth about why he was accused by the Jews, he freed him from the bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all the council to come together, and brought Paul down and set him before them. 023:001 Paul, looking steadfastly at the council, said, "Brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day." 023:002 The high priest, Ananias, commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. 023:003 Then 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?" 023:004 Those who stood by said, "Do you malign God's high priest?" 023:005 Paul 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.'"{Exodus 22:28} 023:006 But 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!" 023:007 When he had said this, an argument arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 023:008 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess all of these. 023:009 A 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!" 023:010 When 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. 023:011 The 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." 023:012 When 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. 023:013 There were more than forty people who had made this conspiracy. 023:014 They 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. 023:015 Now 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." 023:016 But Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, and he came and entered into the barracks and told Paul.