Acts 23:12-22

Evangelical Heritage Version

The Plot to Kill Paul

¹² When day came, the Jews^[a] formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath, saying that they would not eat or drink until they had killed Paul. ¹³ There were more than forty who took part in this plot.

¹⁴ They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves under a solemn oath not to taste anything until we have killed Paul. ¹⁵ Now then, you and the Sanhedrin file charges with the commander so that he will bring him down to you^[b] as if you were going to make a more thorough examination of his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets close to this place.”

¹⁶ But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the ambush, he went into the barracks and told Paul. ¹⁷ Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander, because he has something to report to him.”

¹⁸ So he brought him to the commander and said, “The prisoner Paul called for me and asked me to bring this young man to you, because he has something to tell you.”

¹⁹ The commander took him by the hand, led him aside, and asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?”

²⁰ He said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the Sanhedrin tomorrow, as if they want to gain more accurate information about him. ²¹ Don’t let them persuade you, because more than forty of their men are waiting in ambush for him. They have bound themselves under a solemn oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are ready right now, waiting for your consent.”

²² So the commander dismissed the young man with this order: “Don’t tell anyone that you have reported these things to me.”