Acts 23:12-35

A Conspiracy to Kill Paul

12 And [when it] was day, the Jews made a conspiracy [and] bound themselves under a curse, saying [they would] neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.
13 Now there were more [than] forty who had made this conspiracy,
14 who went to the chief priests and the elders [and] said, "We have bound ourselves under a curse to partake of nothing until we have killed Paul
15 Therefore, now you along with the Sanhedrin explain to the military tribune that he should bring him down to you, as [if you] were going to determine more accurately the things concerning him. And we are ready to do away with him before he comes near."
16 But [when] the son of Paul's sister heard about the ambush, he came and entered into the barracks [and] reported [it] to Paul.
17 So Paul called one of the centurions [and] said, "Bring this young man to the military tribune, because he has something to report to him."
18 So he took him [and] brought [him] to the military tribune and said, "The prisoner Paul called me [and] asked [me] to bring this young man to you [because he] has something to tell you."
19 And the military tribune, taking hold of his hand and withdrawing privately, asked, "What is it that you have to report to me?
20 And he said, "The Jews have agreed to ask you that you bring Paul down to the Sanhedrin tomorrow, as [if they] were going to inquire somewhat more accurately concerning him.
21 You therefore do not be persuaded by them, because more [than] forty men of {their number} are lying in wait [for] him, who have bound themselves under a curse neither to eat nor to drink until they have done away with him. And now they are ready, waiting for {you to agree}."
22 So the military tribune sent the young man away, directing [him], "Tell no one that you have revealed these [things] to me."
23 And he summoned two of the centurions [and] said, "Make ready from the third hour of the night two hundred soldiers and seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen, in order that they may proceed as far as Caesarea.
24 And provide mounts so that they can put Paul on them [and] bring [him] safely to Felix the governor."
25 {He wrote} a letter that had this form:
26 Claudius Lysias. To his excellency Governor Felix. Greetings!
27 This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them [when I] came upon [them] with the detachment [and] rescued [him], [because I] learned that he was a Roman citizen.
28 And [because I] wanted to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought [him] down to their Sanhedrin.
29 I found {he} was accused concerning controversial questions of their law, but having no charge deserving death or imprisonment.
30 And [when it] was made known to me there would be a plot against the man, I sent [him] to you immediately, also ordering [his] accusers to speak against him before you.
31 Therefore the soldiers, in accordance with {their orders}, took Paul [and] brought [him] to Antipatris during the night.
32 And on the next day they let the horsemen go on with him, [and] they returned to the barracks.
33 {The horsemen}, [when they] came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, also presented Paul to him.
34 So [after] reading [the letter] and asking what province he was from, and learning that [he was] from Cilicia,
35 he said, "I will give you a hearing whenever your accusers arrive also," giving orders [for] him to be guarded in the praetorium of Herod.

Footnotes 46

  • [a]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("was")
  • [b]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("made") has been translated as a finite verb
  • [c]. Literally "saying neither to eat nor to drink"; the words "they would" are supplied for smoother English style
  • [d]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("went to") has been translated as a finite verb
  • [e]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("heard about") which is understood as temporal
  • [f]. Or "headquarters"
  • [g]. *Here "and" is supplied because the two previous participles ("came" and "entered") have been translated as finite verbs
  • [h]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  • [i]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("called") has been translated as a finite verb
  • [j]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("took") has been translated as a finite verb
  • [k]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  • [l]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("called") has been translated as a finite verb
  • [m]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  • [n]. *Here "[because]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("has") which is understood as causal
  • [o]. Literally "them"
  • [p]. Literally "the assurance of agreement from you"
  • [q]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  • [r]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("summoned") has been translated as a finite verb
  • [s]. A word of uncertain meaning, probably a military technical term
  • [t]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("put ... on") has been translated as a finite verb
  • [u]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  • [v]. Literally "writing"
  • [w]. Or "content"
  • [x]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("came upon") which is understood as temporal
  • [y]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  • [z]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("came upon") has been translated as a finite verb
  • [aa]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  • [ab]. *Here "[because]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("learned") which is understood as causal
  • [ac]. *Here "[because]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("wanted") which is understood as causal
  • [ad]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  • [ae]. Or "council"
  • [af]. Literally "whom"
  • [ag]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("was made known") which is understood as temporal
  • [ah]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  • [ai]. *Literally "the"; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  • [aj]. Some manuscripts have "to state the charges against him" (literally, "to speak the [things] against him")
  • [ak]. Literally "what was ordered to them"
  • [al]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("took") has been translated as a finite verb
  • [am]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  • [an]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("let") has been translated as a finite verb
  • [ao]. Or "headquarters"
  • [ap]. Literally "who"
  • [aq]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("came") which is understood as temporal
  • [ar]. *Here "[after]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("reading") which is understood as temporal
  • [as]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  • [at]. The "praetorium" of Herod refers to the palace of Herod the Great in Caesarea Maritima
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