with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John and Alexander, and all the members of the high-priestly family.

Then the high priest took action. He and all his colleagues, those who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy.

In obedience to this, they entered the temple complex at daybreak and began to teach.

When the high priest and those who were with him arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin—the full Senate of the sons of Israel—and sent orders to the jail to have them brought.

After they brought them in, they had them stand before the Sanhedrin, and the high priest asked,

“Is this true?” the high priest asked.

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest

as both the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify about me. After I received letters from them to the brothers, I traveled to Damascus to bring those who were prisoners there to be punished in Jerusalem.

But the high priest Ananias ordered those who were standing next to him to strike him on the mouth.

And those standing nearby said, “Do you dare revile God’s high priest?”

“I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest,” replied Paul. “For it is written, You must not speak evil of a ruler of your people.”

After five days Ananias the high priest came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus. These men presented their case against Paul to the governor.