The Plot to Kill Paul and the Soldier's Intervention
Acts 23:12-22
12When day had come, the Jews formed a plot and bound themselves with an oath, declaring that they would neither eat nor drink until they killed Paul.13More than forty were the ones who had made this plot.14They approached the high priests and the elders and said, We have bound ourselves with a devoted oath to taste nothing until we kill Paul.15Now therefore show this to the military officer together with the council, so that he may bring him down to you as though intending to decide his case more strictly. We are ready to kill him before he comes near.16When the son of Paul's sister heard of the plot, he came and entered the barracks and reported it to Paul.17Paul then summoned one of the centurions and said, Take this young man to the military officer, for he has something to announce to him.18So the centurion took him and brought him to the military officer and said, The prisoner Paul summoned me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to speak to you.19The military officer took him by the hand, withdrew privately, and inquired, What is it that you have to announce to me?20He said, The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though intending to inquire more strictly about him.21Therefore do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush; they have bound themselves with an oath neither to eat nor to drink until they kill him, and now they are ready, waiting for the promise from you.22So the military officer dismissed the young man, ordering him to tell no one that he had disclosed these things to me.