A Study of Acts: A Conspiracy to Kill Paul
Acts 23:12-22 - Sometimes a bit player will enter the scene to preserve the promise of God. Don’t underestimate His Will!
“When it was day, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. There were more than forty who formed this plot. They came to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have bound ourselves under a solemn oath to taste nothing until we have killed Paul. Now therefore, you and the Council notify the commander to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case by a more thorough investigation; and we for our part are ready to slay him before he comes near the place.”
But the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, and he came and entered the barracks and told Paul. Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, “Lead this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him.” So he took him and led him to the commander and *said, “Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to lead this young man to you since he has something to tell you.” The commander took him by the hand and stepping aside, began to inquire of him privately, “What is it that you have to report to me?” And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down tomorrow to the Council, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more thoroughly about him. So do not listen to them, for more than forty of them are lying in wait for him who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they slay him; and now they are ready and waiting for the promise from you.” So the commander let the young man go, instructing him, “Tell no one that you have notified me of these things.””
Acts 23:12-22 NASB1995
After the comfort Paul received from the Lord, including the promise that he would reach Rome, the very next day the Jews formed a conspiracy to kill Paul. Over forty of them make a vow or oath that they will not eat or drink until this deed is done. So let’s do a word study! Oath in this case comes from the Greek word ἀναθεματίζω or anathematízō, with the following Biblical usages:
to devote to destruction
to declare one's self liable to the severest divine penalties
This is a destructive oath that violates the things these men supposedly believe. The plotters go to the chief priests and elders to get their permission for their murderous plot. Apparently, they agree with it although it is not explicitly stated. The plotters want the chief priests and elders to go to the Roman Commander and ask that Paul be allowed to come back to them for more questions. On the way there, he will be attacked and killed by people that should know better, since they are allegedly so focused on God’s laws. This short commentary by Ray Stedman quoted in Precept Austin is good:
This certainly underscores the hopelessness of Paul's attempt to witness to these Jews. They are not only unwilling to listen, they are intent upon killing him. So they concoct a plot by which they can get Paul away from the protection of the Roman guardhouse and down into the streets of Jerusalem on his way to the high priest's palace. There, in the narrow, tortuous alleyways of that old city, they have a band of forty men who have vowed never to eat or drink until they have overpowered his guards and put him to death. It looks as if the plot might work. (Love that Never Lets Go).
Jack Arnold, quoted in Precept Austin, is also worth reading:
The fact that God uses evil men does not mean that men are robots. Men are always responsible for their evil actions and attitudes. God’s providence governs man but it governs him in such a way that man is not robbed of the degree of liberty necessary for him to remain responsible for his own actions. God's plan includes the evil actions of men and yet in such a way that He is not responsible for the evil. Men are responsible for their evil and they are held accountable, but all this never occurs outside God's secret will. This is a very hard concept to understand, but the Bible illustrates it best of all for us from the life of Joseph. Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery which was a very evil act. Years later, after God used that evil as a stepping stone to make Joseph Pharaoh's right hand man, Joseph could say, “And as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive” (Gen. 50:20).
In an earlier devotional, I excerpted commentary from Jack Arnold delineating the different wills of God. Here is a link to commentary on Precept Austin that discusses the Will of God that includes the commentary from Jack Arnold.
This plot seems bulletproof, but then there is a strange intervention that occurs! Have you noted by now that God seems to specialize in remarkable interventions? Paul’s nephew (unheard of until now and never heard from again) has somehow heard about the murder plot! Paul apparently has a sister in Jerusalem and her son goes to Paul, walking right into the barracks without being challenged! He tells Paul about the plot. Paul does something interesting at this point - he calls over one of the centurions and tells him to escort this young man to the commander so that he can tell the commander something of importance! Paul doesn’t repeat the information to the centurion, but realizes the commander will probably receive the news best if he is told in person by Paul’s nephew.
Jack Arnold has more good commentary quoted in Precept Austin:
We learn here that Paul had a sister and nephew in Jerusalem. Somehow this young man found out about the plot to kill Paul. God providentially used a young boy to warn Paul of the plot to kill him. God's timing was perfect, for the boy found out just in the nick of time, and did not delay or Paul would have been dead. We call this a divine coincidence but there are no coincidences in the plan of God. Notice that this detail of a young boy overhearing a conversation seems so insignificant but it was another providential move in the plan of God for Paul. When Columbus was sailing to America, a flight of birds caused him to change his course. (He was sailing for Virginia but, at this point, he was looking for land because they had been at sea a long time and his men were mutinous.) Suddenly, he saw a flight of birds to the southwest. He changed his direction to the southwest and hit the West Indies instead of Virginia. That simply determined whether this nation would be dominated by Spain or by England. Such a small thing as a flight of birds determining such a tremendous thing in history!
I love this image of this young boy taking delight in God’s word. Even though Paul is in great danger, I can picture this boy reading this story and thinking about the sudden, delightful, mysterious entry of a bit player or device (the fabled “deus ex machina”) that helps preserve the course of Paul’s life and its trajectory. Of course, we all know that eventually the miracles end for Paul in about A.D. 64, but there are many things he is still tasked to do for the Lord at this moment in time, including traveling to Rome.
Besides the serendipitous appearance of a family member who manages to get to Paul in the heavily-guarded barracks, the Roman commander takes the time to listen to what he says and even takes his hand and steps aside to give him his full attention. The nephew repeats his information about the murder mob who will be waiting to kill Paul when the Council lies and requests Paul’s presence again for questioning. The commander listens and lets the young man go, telling him not to repeat this information to anyone else.
My next devotional examines Acts 23:23-35 - Paul is moved to Caesarea.
Heaven on Wheels Daily Prayer:
Dear Lord - Thank you for the interventions that You make in our lives to guide our sanctification and purposes for You! You use events, other people and even Angels to help us! Amen.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
The Blue Letter Bible was accessed on 1/16/2025 to review the lexicon for oath.
Precept Austin was accessed on 1/16/2025 to review commentary for Acts 23:12-22.