Acts 23:11-22 - The Plot Against Paul

¹¹ The night following God stood by him, and said, "Be of good cheer Paul: For as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness at Rome."

¹² When day was come, certain of the Jews gathered themselves together, and made a vow saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. ¹³ They were about forty which had made this conspiration. ¹⁴ And they came to the chief priest and elders, and said, "We have bound ourselves with a vow, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul. ¹⁵ Now therefore give ye knowledge to the upper captain, and to the council that he bring him forth unto us tomorrow, as though we would know some thing more perfectly of him. But we, or ever he come near, are ready in the mean season to kill him."

¹⁶ When Paul's sister's son heard of their laying await, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul. ¹⁷ And Paul called one of the under captains unto him, and said, "Bring this young man unto the high captain: for he hath a certain thing to show him."

¹⁸ And he took him, and led him to the high captain, and said, "Paul the prisoner called me unto him and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, which hath a certain matter to show thee."

¹⁹ The high captain took him by the hand, and went apart with him out of the way, and asked him, "What hast thou to say unto me?"

²⁰ And he said, "The Jews are determined to desire thee that thou wouldest bring forth Paul tomorrow into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly. ²¹ But follow not their minds: for there lie in wait for him of them, more than forty men, which have bound themselves with a vow, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him. And now are they ready, and look for thy promise."

²² The upper captain let the young man depart and charged him, "See thou tell it out to no man that thou hast showed these things to me."