ACT 23:12-22

The Plot to Kill Paul

12When day came, the Jews, having formed a conspiracy, bound themselves under a curse, declaring they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. [23:13] There were more than forty who had made this plot. [23:14] They came to the chief priests and the elders and said: "With a curse we have cursed ourselves to taste nothing until we have killed Paul. [23:15] Now therefore, make a report to the commander with the council, so that he may bring him down to you tomorrow, as though you were about to examine more precisely the things concerning him; and we, before he draws near, are ready to execute him." [23:16] The son of Paul's sister, having heard of the ambush, came and entered the barracks and reported it to Paul. [23:17] Paul then called one of the centurions to him and said: "Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him." [23:18] He therefore took him and brought him to the commander and said: "The prisoner Paul called me to him and asked me to bring this young man to you, as he has something to say to you." [23:19] The commander took him by the hand and withdrew privately and was inquiring: "What is it that you have to report to me?" [23:20] He said: "The Jews have agreed to ask you that tomorrow you bring Paul down to the council, as though they were about to inquire more precisely concerning him. [23:21] But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of them are lying in ambush for him, men who have bound themselves under a curse to neither eat nor drink until they have killed him — and now they are ready, awaiting the promise from you." [23:22] The commander therefore dismissed the young man, charging him: "Tell no one that you reported these things to me."

In the world it was spoken into

In 1st-century Jerusalem, oaths and vows held significant weight, especially when tied to religious or communal obligations. The conspirators’ use of (to bind themselves under a curse) reflects a common Jewish practice of invoking divine judgment to ensure commitment to a cause. This extreme act—refusing to eat or drink until Paul was killed—demonstrates the intensity of their hostility toward him, likely fueled by his perceived threat to Jewish tradition and his association with Gentiles. The involvement of chief priests and elders highlights the collaboration between religious leaders and local authorities, a dynamic common in Roman-controlled Judea. The plan to bring Paul down from the barracks suggests a strategic move to exploit Roman military procedures, possibly aiming to ambush him during a transfer. The mention of over forty conspirators underscores the scale of the threat, reflecting the volatile tensions in Jerusalem, where political and religious factions often clashed violently.

›See the receipts

How other translations render this

ACT 23:12

KJV: And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
BSB: When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
Koinōnos: When day came, the Jews, having formed a conspiracy, bound themselves under a curse, declaring they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.

ACT 23:13

KJV: And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.
BSB: More than forty of them were involved in this plot.
Koinōnos: There were more than forty who had made this plot.

ACT 23:14

KJV: And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.
BSB: They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.
Koinōnos: They came to the chief priests and the elders and said: "With a curse we have cursed ourselves to taste nothing until we have killed Paul.

ACT 23:15

KJV: Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.
BSB: Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him down to you on the pretext of examining his case more carefully. We are ready to kill him on the way.”
Koinōnos: Now therefore, make a report to the commander with the council, so that he may bring him down to you tomorrow, as though you were about to examine more precisely the things concerning him; and we, before he draws near, are ready to execute him.

ACT 23:16

KJV: And when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.
BSB: But when the son of Paulʼs sister heard about the plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.
Koinōnos: The son of Paul's sister, having heard of the ambush, came and entered the barracks and reported it to Paul.

ACT 23:17

KJV: Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him.
BSB: Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.”
Koinōnos: Paul then called one of the centurions to him and said: "Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him.

ACT 23:18

KJV: So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee.
BSB: So the centurion took him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner sent and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.”
Koinōnos: He therefore took him and brought him to the commander and said: "The prisoner Paul called me to him and asked me to bring this young man to you, as he has something to say to you.

ACT 23:19

KJV: Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that thou hast to tell me?
BSB: The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside, and asked, “What do you need to tell me?”
Koinōnos: The commander took him by the hand and withdrew privately and was inquiring: "What is it that you have to report to me?

ACT 23:20

KJV: And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly.
BSB: He answered, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul to the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of acquiring more information about him.
Koinōnos: He said: "The Jews have agreed to ask you that tomorrow you bring Paul down to the council, as though they were about to inquire more precisely concerning him.

ACT 23:21

KJV: But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee.
BSB: Do not let them persuade you, because more than forty men are waiting to ambush him. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him; they are ready now, awaiting your consent.”
Koinōnos: But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of them are lying in ambush for him, men who have bound themselves under a curse to neither eat nor drink until they have killed him — and now they are ready, awaiting the promise from you.

ACT 23:22

KJV: So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast shewed these things to me.
BSB: So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, “Do not tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”
Koinōnos: The commander therefore dismissed the young man, charging him: "Tell no one that you reported these things to me.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

ACT 23:12

put under an oath:The phrase translated 'put under an oath' indicates that these men bound themselves with a curse, invoking divine judgment upon themselves if they failed to carry out their plan.

ACT 23:14

With an oath:The term translated 'With an oath' refers to something dedicated to evil or accursed, emphasizing the extreme and binding nature of the vow these men took upon themselves.

ACT 23:15

tomorrow:The word translated 'tomorrow' is part of a larger phrase that literally means 'bring down,' referring to bringing Paul down from the barracks to the council.

ACT 23:16

barracks:The word translated 'barracks' originally referred to a military camp or an army drawn up in battle order, highlighting the fortified and strategic nature of the Roman garrison.