Acts 23:11–22

¹¹And the next night the Lord stood by him and^* said, “Have courage, for as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

A Conspiracy to Kill Paul

¹²And when it^* was day, the Jews made a conspiracy and^* bound themselves under a curse, saying they would^c neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. ¹³Now there were more than forty who had made this conspiracy, ¹⁴who went to the chief priests and the elders and^* said, “We have bound ourselves under a curse to partake of nothing until we have killed Paul. ¹⁵Therefore, now you along with the Sanhedrin explain to the military tribune that he should bring him down to you, as if you were going to determine more accurately the things concerning him. And we are ready to do away with him before he comes near.”

¹⁶But when^* the son of Paul’s sister heard about the ambush, he came and entered into the barracks^d and^* reported it^* to Paul. ¹⁷So Paul called one of the centurions and^* said, “Bring this young man to the military tribune, because he has something to report to him.” ¹⁸So he took him and^* brought him^* to the military tribune and said, “The prisoner Paul called me and^* asked me^* to bring this young man to you because he^* has something to tell you.” ¹⁹And the military tribune, taking hold of his hand and withdrawing privately, asked, “What is it that you have to report to me?” ²⁰And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you that you bring Paul down to the Sanhedrin tomorrow, as if they were going to inquire somewhat more accurately concerning him. ²¹You therefore do not be persuaded by them, because more than forty men of their number^e are lying in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse neither to eat nor to drink until they have done away with him. And now they are ready, waiting for you to agree.”^{f 22}So the military tribune sent the young man away, directing him,^* “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.”