Acts 23:11-22 - The Plot Against Paul

¹¹ And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as you have testified of me in Jerusalem, so must you bear witness also at Rome.

¹² 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. ¹³ And they were more than forty who had made this conspiracy. ¹⁴ 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. ¹⁵ Now therefore you with the council inform the chief captain that he bring him down unto you tomorrow, as though you would inquire something more exactly concerning him: and we, before he comes near, are ready to kill him.

¹⁶ And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the barracks, and told Paul. ¹⁷ Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he has a certain thing to tell him.

¹⁸ So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and asked me to bring this young man unto you, who has something to say unto you.

¹⁹ Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is it that you have to tell me?

²⁰ And he said, The Jews have agreed to ask you that you would bring down Paul tomorrow into the council, as though they would inquire somewhat of him more exactly. ²¹ But do not yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, who 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 you.

²² So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See that you tell no man that you have showed these things to me.