NEW TESTAMENT

Acts 23:12–22

The Holy Bible · English

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When it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 12. Bound themselves. The Greek is, anathematized, that is, submitted themselves to a curse, if they did not kill Paul. It was a great imprecation, the violation of which would have been equivalent to renouncing their belief in God. See to what degree of iniquity this nation is come. When any good is in contemplation, none are found to undertake it; whilst all, even the priests too, are ready to concur in any wicked design. Saint John Chrysostom in Act. hom. xlix.—To take an unlawful oath is one sin; but to keep it, is another and greater sin: as when Herod, to keep his oath, put to death John the Baptist. Matthew 4:9.

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There were more than forty people who had made this conspiracy.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 13. Forty men that had made this conspiracy, [3] and bound themselves with an impious curse, or imprecation upon themselves, if they did not kill him. Witham.

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They came to the chief priests and the elders, and said, “We have bound ourselves under a great curse to taste nothing until we have killed Paul.

Now therefore, you with the council inform the commanding officer that he should bring him down to you tomorrow, as though you were going to judge his case more exactly. We are ready to kill him before he comes near.”

But Paul’s sister’s son heard they were lying in wait, and he came and entered into the barracks and told Paul.

Paul summoned one of the centurions and said, “Bring this young man to the commanding officer, for he has something to tell him.”

So he took him and brought him to the commanding officer and said, “Paul, the prisoner, summoned me and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.”

The commanding officer took him by the hand, and going aside, asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?”

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 19. Taking him by the hand, with marks of affection and tenderness. It is probable that the tribune expected this young man was come to offer some ransom for Paul’s liberty. Menochius.

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He said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though intending to inquire somewhat more accurately concerning him.

Therefore don’t yield to them, for more than forty men lie in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse to neither eat nor drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, looking for the promise from you.”

So the commanding officer let the young man go, charging him, “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.”

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