Acts 23:12-22

Disciples’ Literal New Testament

The Next Day, Over 40 Jews Swear an Oath To Kill Paul, And Hatch a Plot

¹² And having become day, the Jews, having held a gathering, bound themselves under-a-curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until which time they killed Paul. ¹³ Now there were more than forty having made^[a] this sworn-pact— ¹⁴ who, having gone to the chief priests and the elders, said, “With a curse^[b], we bound ourselves under-a-curse to eat nothing until which time we kill Paul. ¹⁵ Now therefore, you, along with the Sanhedrin, notify the commander so that he may bring him down to you, as-though you are intending to determine the things concerning him more accurately. And we are prepared that we might kill him before he draws-near”.

Paul’s Nephew Hears of The Plot, And Informs The Roman Commander

¹⁶ But the son of the sister of Paul— having heard-of the ambush, having come and entered into the barracks— reported it to Paul. ¹⁷ And Paul, having summoned one of the centurions, said, “Lead this young-man away to the commander, for he has something to report to him”. ¹⁸ So indeed the one, having taken him along, led him to the commander. And he says, “Paul the prisoner, having summoned me, asked that I lead this young man to you— he having something to tell you”. ¹⁹ And the commander— having taken-hold-of his hand, and having withdrawn privately— was asking, “What is it that you have to report to me?” ²⁰ And he said that “The Jews agreed to ask you so that tomorrow you might bring Paul down to the Sanhedrin, as-though intending to inquire something more accurately concerning him. ²¹ So don’t you be persuaded by them. For more than forty men from-among them are lying-in-wait-for him who bound themselves under-a-curse neither to eat nor drink until which time they kill him. And now they are prepared, waiting-for the promise^[c] from you”.

The Roman Commander Makes Arrangements To Send Paul To Caesarea

²² Then indeed the commander sent away the young-man, having commanded him to tell no one “that you revealed^[d] these things to me”.