Acts 23:12-35

A Conspiracy to Kill Paul

12 When it was day, 1the Jews formed a conspiracy and 2bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.
13 There were more than forty who formed this plot.
14 They came to the chief priests and the elders and said, "We have 3bound ourselves under a solemn oath to taste nothing until we have killed Paul
15 "Now therefore, you and 4the Council notify the commander to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case * by a more thorough investigation; and we for our part are ready to slay him before he comes near the place."
16 But the son of Paul's sister heard of their ambush, and he came and entered 5the barracks and told Paul.
17 Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, "Lead this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him."
18 So he took him and led him to the commander and said, "Paul 6the prisoner called me to him and asked me to lead this young man to you since he has something to tell you."
19 The commander took him by the hand and stepping aside, began to inquire of him privately *, "What is it that you have to report to me?
20 And he said, "7The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down tomorrow to 8the Council, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more thoroughly about him.
21 "So do not listen to them, for more than forty of them are 9lying in wait for him who have 10bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they slay him; and now they are ready and waiting for the promise from you.
22 So the commander let the young man go, instructing him, "Tell no one that you have notified me of these things."

Paul Moved to Caesarea

23 And he called to him two of the centurions and said, "Get two hundred soldiers ready by the third hour of the night to proceed to 11Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen."
24 They were also to provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to 12Felix the governor.
25 And he wrote a letter having this form:
26 "Claudius Lysias, to the 13most excellent governor Felix, 14greetings.
27 "When this man was arrested by the Jews and was about to be slain by them, 15I came up to them with the troops and rescued him, 16having learned that he was a Roman.
28 "And 17wanting to ascertain the charge for which they were accusing him, I 18brought him down to their 19Council;
29 and I found him to be accused over 20questions about their Law, but under 21no accusation deserving death or imprisonment.
30 "When I was 22informed that there would be 23a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, also instructing 24his accusers to bring charges against him before you."
31 So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.
32 But the next day, leaving 25the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to 26the barracks.
33 When these had come to 27Caesarea and delivered the letter to 28the governor, they also presented Paul to him.
34 When he had read it, he asked from what 29province he was, and when he learned that 30he was from Cilicia,
35 he said, "I will give you a hearing after your 31accusers arrive also," giving orders for him to be 32kept in Herod's Praetorium.

Cross References 32

  • 1. Acts 9:23; Acts 23:30; 1 Thessalonians 2:16
  • 2. Acts 23:14, 21
  • 3. Acts 23:12, 21
  • 4. Acts 22:30; Acts 23:1, 6, 20, 28
  • 5. Acts 21:34; Acts 23:10, 32
  • 6. Ephesians 3:1
  • 7. Acts 23:14
  • 8. Acts 22:30; Acts 23:1, 6, 15, 28
  • 9. Acts 23:12, 14
  • 10. Luke 11:54
  • 11. Acts 8:40; Acts 23:33
  • 12. Acts 23:26, 33; Acts 24:1, 3, 10; Acts 25:14
  • 13. Luke 1:3; Acts 24:3; Acts 26:25
  • 14. Acts 15:23
  • 15. Acts 21:32
  • 16. Acts 22:25-29
  • 17. Acts 22:30
  • 18. Acts 23:10
  • 19. Acts 23:1
  • 20. Acts 18:15; Acts 25:19
  • 21. Acts 23:9; Acts 25:25; Acts 26:31; Acts 28:18
  • 22. Acts 23:20
  • 23. Acts 9:24; Acts 23:12
  • 24. Acts 23:35; Acts 24:19; Acts 25:16
  • 25. Acts 23:23
  • 26. Acts 23:10
  • 27. Acts 8:40; Acts 23:23
  • 28. Acts 23:24, 26; Acts 24:1, 3, 10; Acts 25:14
  • 29. Acts 25:1
  • 30. Acts 6:9; Acts 21:39
  • 31. Acts 23:30; Acts 24:19; Acts 25:16
  • 32. Acts 24:27

Footnotes 19

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