Act 23:12-35 | ESV | STEP | When it was day , the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul .

Acts 23:12-35

A Plot to Kill Paul

12 When it was day, ^athe Jews made a plot and ^bbound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. 13 There were more than forty who made this conspiracy. 14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul. 15 Now therefore you, along with the council, give notice to the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes near.”

16 Now the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, so he went and entered ^cthe barracks and told Paul. 17 Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him.” 18 So he took him and brought him to the tribune and said, “Paul ^dthe prisoner called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, as he has something to say to you.” 19 The tribune took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?” 20 And he said, ^e“The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more closely about him. 21 But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him, who ^fhave bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him. And now they are ready, waiting for your consent.” 22 So the tribune dismissed the young man, charging him, “Tell no one that you have informed me of these things.”

Paul Sent to Felix the Governor

23 Then he called two of the centurions and said, “Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night. ^{▼▼That is, 9 p.m.} 24 Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to ^hFelix ⁱthe governor.” 25 And he wrote a letter to this effect:

26 “Claudius Lysias, to ^jhis Excellency the governor Felix, ^kgreetings. 27 ^lThis man was seized by the Jews and ^mwas about to be killed by them ⁿwhen I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, ^ohaving learned that he was a Roman citizen. 28 And ^pdesiring to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council. 29 I found that he was being accused ^qabout questions of their law, but ^rcharged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment. 30 ^sAnd when it was disclosed to me ^tthat there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ^uordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him.”

31 So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 And on the next day they returned to ^vthe barracks, letting the horsemen go on with him. 33 When they had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him. 34 On reading the letter, he asked what ^wprovince he was from. And when he learned ^xthat he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, “I will give you a hearing ^ywhen your accusers arrive.” And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod’s ^zpraetorium.