Acts 23:1-5

Living Bible

23 Gazing intently at the Council, Paul began:

“Brothers, I have always lived before God in all good conscience!”

² Instantly Ananias the High Priest commanded those close to Paul to slap him on the mouth.

³ Paul said to him, “God shall slap you, you whitewashed pigpen.^[a] What kind of judge are you to break the law yourself by ordering me struck like that?”

⁴ Those standing near Paul said to him, “Is that the way to talk to God’s High Priest?”

⁵ “I didn’t realize he was the High Priest, brothers,” Paul replied, “for the Scriptures say, ‘Never speak evil of any of your rulers.’”