Acts 23:12-22

International Standard Version

Some Jews Plot to Kill Paul

¹² In the morning, the Jewish leaders^[a] formed a conspiracy and took an oath not to eat or drink anything before they had killed Paul. ¹³ More than 40 men formed this conspiracy. ¹⁴ They went to the high priests and elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to taste any food before we have killed Paul. ¹⁵ Now then, you and the Council^[b] must notify the tribune to bring him down to you on the pretext that you want to look into his case more carefully, but before he arrives we’ll be ready to kill him.”

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

¹⁸ So the centurion^[c] took him, brought him to the tribune, and said, “The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.”

¹⁹ The tribune took him by the hand, stepped aside to be alone with him, and asked, “What have you got to tell me?”

²⁰ He answered, “The Jewish leaders^[d] have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the Council^[e] tomorrow as though they were going to examine his case more carefully. ²¹ Don’t believe them, because more than 40 of them are planning to ambush him. They’ve taken an oath not to eat or drink before they’ve killed him. They are ready now, just waiting for your consent.”

²² The tribune dismissed the young man and ordered him not to tell anyone that he had notified him.