New International Version Don’t give in to them, because more than forty of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are ready now, waiting for your consent to their request.” New Living Translation But don’t do it! There are more than forty men hiding along the way ready to ambush him. They have vowed not to eat or drink anything until they have killed him. They are ready now, just waiting for your consent.” English Standard Version But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him, who have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him. And now they are ready, waiting for your consent.” Berean Standard Bible Do not let them persuade you, because more than forty men are waiting to ambush him. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him; they are ready now, awaiting your consent.” Berean Literal Bible You, therefore, should not be persuaded by them. For more than forty of their men lie in wait for him, who have put themselves under an oath neither to eat nor to drink until they should kill him; and now they are ready, awaiting the promise from you.” King James Bible But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee. New King James Version But do not yield to them, for more than forty of them lie in wait for him, men who have bound themselves by an oath that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him; and now they are ready, waiting for the promise from you.” New American Standard Bible So do not listen to them, for more than forty of them are in hiding to ambush him, and these men have put themselves under an oath not to eat or drink until they kill him; and now they are ready and waiting for assurance from you.” NASB 1995 “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.” NASB 1977 “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.” Legacy Standard Bible So do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of them—who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they slay him—are lying in wait for him and now they are ready and waiting for the promise from you.” Amplified Bible But do not listen to them, for more than forty of them are lying in wait for him, and they have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. Even now they are ready, just waiting for your promise.” Berean Annotated Bible Do not let them persuade you, because more than forty men are waiting to ambush him. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him; they are ready now, awaiting your consent. Christian Standard Bible Don’t let them persuade you, because there are more than forty of them lying in ambush—men who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, waiting for your consent.” Holman Christian Standard Bible Don’t let them persuade you, because there are more than 40 of them arranging to ambush him, men who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they kill him. Now they are ready, waiting for a commitment from you.” American Standard Version Do not thou therefore yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, who have bound themselves under a curse, neither to eat nor to drink till they have slain him: and now are they ready, looking for the promise from thee. Contemporary English Version But please don't do what they say. More than 40 men are going to attack Paul. They have made a vow not to eat or drink anything until they have killed him. Even now they are waiting to hear what you decide." English Revised Version Do not thou therefore yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves under a curse, neither to eat nor to drink till they have slain him: and now are they ready, looking for the promise from thee. GOD'S WORD® Translation Don't let them persuade you to do this. More than forty of them are planning to ambush him. They have asked God to curse them if they eat or drink anything before they have murdered him. They are ready now and are expecting you to promise [that you will bring Paul]." Good News Translation But don't listen to them, because there are more than forty men who will be hiding and waiting for him. They have taken a vow not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are now ready to do it and are waiting for your decision." International Standard Version Don't believe them, because more than 40 of them are planning to ambush him. They've taken an oath not to eat or drink before they've killed him. They are ready now, just waiting for your consent." NET Bible So do not let them persuade you to do this, because more than forty of them are lying in ambush for him. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink anything until they have killed him, and now they are ready, waiting for you to agree to their request." New Heart English Bible Therefore do not yield to them, for more than forty men lie in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse neither to eat nor to drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, looking for the promise from you." Webster's Bible Translation But do not thou yield to them: for there are of them who lie in wait for him more than forty men, who have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now they are ready, looking for a promise from thee. Weymouth New Testament I beg you not to comply; for more than forty men among them are lying in wait for him, who have solemnly vowed that they will neither eat nor drink till they have assassinated him; and even now they are ready, in anticipation of receiving that promise of you." Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleDo not let them persuade you, because more than forty men are waiting to ambush him. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him; they are ready now, awaiting your consent.” World English Bible Therefore don’t yield to them, for more than forty men lie in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse to neither eat nor drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, looking for the promise from you.” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionyou, therefore, may you not yield to them, for there more than forty men of them lie in wait for him, who cursed themselves—not to eat nor to drink until they kill him, and now they are ready, waiting for the promise from you.” Berean Literal Bible You, therefore, should not be persuaded by them. For more than forty of their men lie in wait for him, who have put themselves under an oath neither to eat nor to drink until they should kill him; and now they are ready, awaiting the promise from you.” Young's Literal Translation thou, therefore, mayest thou not yield to them, for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, who did anathematize themselves -- not to eat nor to drink till they kill him, and now they are ready, waiting for the promise from thee.' Smith's Literal Translation Therefore thou shouldest not be persuaded by them: for more than forty men of them lie in wait for him, who anathematized themselves, neither to eat or drink till they should kill him: and now are they prepared, expecting a promise from thee. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBut do not thou give credit to them; for there lie in wait for him more than forty men of them, who have bound themselves by oath neither to eat, nor to drink, till they have killed him: and they are now ready, looking for a promise from thee. Catholic Public Domain Version But truly, you should not believe them, for they would ambush him with more than forty men from among them, who have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat, nor to drink, until they have put him to death. And they are now prepared, hoping for an affirmation from you.” New American Bible but do not believe them. More than forty of them are lying in wait for him; they have bound themselves by oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are now ready and only wait for your consent.” New Revised Standard Version But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him. They have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink until they kill him. They are ready now and are waiting for your consent.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleYou must not listen to them: for behold more than forty of them, who have bound themselves with an oath neither to eat nor to drink till they have killed him, are lying in wait for him: and behold they are ready and awaiting your reply. Aramaic Bible in Plain English “Therefore you should not believe them, for behold, there are more than forty men of them who are watching for him in ambush and they have put a curse upon themselves that they will not eat or drink until they kill him. And behold, they are ready and waiting for your promise.” NT Translations Anderson New TestamentDo not, however, be persuaded by them; for more than forty men of them are lying in wait for him; and they have bound themselves under a curse, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him. And now they are ready, waiting for a promise from you. Godbey New Testament Therefore do not be persuaded by them: for more than forty of them lie in wait for him, who have obligated themselves by an oath, neither to eat nor drink until they may kill him: and now they are ready, awaiting the promise from you. Haweis New Testament But do not thou consent to them: for more than forty men of them are lying in wait for him, who have bound themselves under an anathema, neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now they are in readiness, waiting only to procure the promise from thee. Mace New Testament but don't believe them: for above forty of them lie in ambush, having bound themselves by oath not to eat or drink till they have kill'd him: they are already prepar'd, and only wait your answer. Weymouth New Testament I beg you not to comply; for more than forty men among them are lying in wait for him, who have solemnly vowed that they will neither eat nor drink till they have assassinated him; and even now they are ready, in anticipation of receiving that promise of you." Worrell New Testament Be not, therefore, persuaded by them; for more than forty men of them are lying in wait for him; who, indeed, bound themselves under a curse, neither to eat nor drink, till they should kill him; and now they are ready, expecting the promise from you." Worsley New Testament But do not thou comply with them: for there lie in wait for him more than forty men of them, who have bound themselves with a curse neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him: and they are now ready, waiting for an order from thee. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context The Plot to Kill Paul…20He answered, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul to the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of acquiring more information about him. 21 Do not let them persuade you, because more than forty men are waiting to ambush him. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him; they are ready now, awaiting your consent.” 22So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, “Do not tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”… Cross References Do not let them persuade you, Proverbs 1:10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them. Luke 16:31 Then Abraham said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’” Colossians 2:4 I say this so that no one will deceive you by smooth rhetoric. because more than forty men are waiting to ambush him. Proverbs 1:11-12 If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause, / let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit. Joshua 8:14 When the king of Ai saw the Israelites, he hurried out early in the morning with the men of the city to engage them in battle at an appointed place overlooking the Arabah. But he did not know that an ambush had been set up against him behind the city. Judges 20:33 So all the men of Israel got up from their places and arrayed themselves at Baal-tamar, and the Israelites in ambush charged from their positions west of Gibeah. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him; 1 Samuel 14:24 Now the men of Israel were in distress that day, for Saul had placed the troops under an oath, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food before evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” So none of the troops tasted any food. Numbers 30:2 If a man makes a vow to the LORD or swears an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word; he must do everything he has promised. Esther 4:16 “Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day, and I and my maidens will fast as you do. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish!” they are ready now, awaiting your consent.” Esther 5:6 And as they drank their wine, the king said to Esther, “What is your petition? It will be given to you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be fulfilled.” Esther 7:2 and as they drank their wine on that second day, the king asked once more, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given to you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be fulfilled.” Esther 8:5 “If it pleases the king,” she said, “and if I have found favor in his sight, and the matter seems proper to the king, and I am pleasing in his sight, may an order be written to revoke the letters that the scheming Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king’s provinces. Acts 9:23-24 After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, / but Saul learned of their plot. Day and night they watched the city gates in order to kill him. Acts 25:3 to grant them a concession against Paul by summoning him to Jerusalem, because they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way. Acts 22:30 The next day the commander, wanting to learn the real reason Paul was accused by the Jews, released him and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul down and had him stand before them. Acts 21:31 While they were trying to kill him, the commander of the Roman regiment received a report that all Jerusalem was in turmoil. Treasury of Scripture But do not you yield to them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from you. do not. Exodus 23:2 Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment: for. Acts 23:12-14 And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul… Acts 9:23,24 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: … Acts 14:5,6 And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them, … an oath. Acts 23:14 And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul. Romans 9:3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Jump to Previous Ambush Anticipation Assassinated Beg Bound Comply Consent Curse Drink Eat Forty Killed Lie Oath Promise Ready Receiving Request Slain Slay Solemnly Themselves Vowed Wait Waiting Yield YouJump to Next Ambush Anticipation Assassinated Beg Bound Comply Consent Curse Drink Eat Forty Killed Lie Oath Promise Ready Receiving Request Slain Slay Solemnly Themselves Vowed Wait Waiting Yield YouActs 23 1. As Paul pleads his cause,2. Ananias commands them to strike him. 7. Dissension among his accusers. 11. God encourages him. 14. The Jews' vow to kill Paul, 20. is declared unto the chief captain. 27. He sends him to Felix the governor. Do not let them persuade you, Paul’s nephew warns the Roman commander not to yield to the request of the chief priests and elders. Their proposed hearing is presented as a legal inquiry, but it is part of a plan to murder Paul before he reaches the council. Pro 1:10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them. because more than forty men are waiting to ambush him. The conspiracy is large, organized, and prepared to attack Paul on the road from the barracks to the Sanhedrin. Their numbers reveal the depth of opposition to Paul’s ministry and the danger he faced in Jerusalem. Pro 1:11-12 If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood…”… They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him; These men had sworn a severe vow, committing themselves to Paul’s death. Their zeal was not directed by justice or obedience to God, but by hatred toward the man whose preaching of Christ challenged their unbelief. 1Sa 14:24 Now the men of Israel were in distress that day… they are ready now, awaiting your consent.” The plot depended on the commander ordering Paul brought out again. The warning gives him the opportunity to protect Paul and prevents the Jewish leaders from using Roman authority to carry out their plan. Est 5:6 And as they drank their wine, the king said to Esther,… Persons / Places / Events 1. Paul- The apostle who is the target of the assassination plot. He is a central figure in the early Christian church and a prolific writer of the New Testament. 2. The Forty Conspirators - A group of more than forty Jewish men who have taken an oath to kill Paul. Their plot demonstrates the intense opposition Paul faced from some Jewish leaders. 3. The Roman Commander (Claudius Lysias) - The Roman official responsible for Paul's safety. He is informed of the plot and takes action to protect Paul. 4. Paul's Nephew - The young man who discovers the plot against Paul and informs the Roman commander, playing a crucial role in thwarting the assassination attempt. 5. Jerusalem - The city where these events take place, a significant location for both Jewish and early Christian history. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty and ProtectionDespite human schemes, God's plans prevail. The plot against Paul is thwarted, demonstrating God's sovereign protection over His servants. The Importance of Courage and Action Paul's nephew shows courage by taking action to inform the authorities. Believers are called to act courageously in the face of evil. The Role of Divine Providence God uses ordinary people and circumstances to accomplish His purposes. Paul's nephew's timely intervention is a reminder of how God works through individuals. Faithfulness in Adversity Paul remains faithful despite constant threats. Believers are encouraged to remain steadfast in their faith, trusting in God's protection. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Acts 23:21?2. How does Acts 23:21 demonstrate God's protection over Paul in dangerous situations? 3. What can we learn from Paul's experience about trusting God's plan for us? 4. How does Acts 23:21 connect with Romans 8:28 regarding God's sovereignty? 5. In what ways can we discern and avoid modern-day plots against our faith? 6. How should believers respond when facing threats for sharing the Gospel today? 7. Why did the Jews plot to kill Paul in Acts 23:21? 8. How does Acts 23:21 reflect on divine protection and human schemes? 9. What historical evidence supports the events described in Acts 23:21? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Acts 23? Verse 21. - Do not thou therefore for but do not thou, A.V.; under a curse for with an oath, A.V.; neither to eat nor to drink for that they will neither eat nor drink, A.V.; slain for killed, A.V.; the for a (promise), A.V. Do not... yield (μὴ πεισθῇς); be not persuaded by them; do not assent unto them (see Luke 16:6; Acts 5:40; Acts 17:4, etc.). The promise, etc.; τὴν ἀπὸ σοῦ ἐπαγγελίαν. The word occurs above fifty times in the New Testament, and is always rendered "promise" in the A.V., except in 1 John 1:5, where it is rendered both in the A.V. and the R.V. "message," which is the literal meaning of the word. In Polybius it means "a summons." Either of these meanings suits this passage better than "promise." Acts 23:21 records Paul’s nephew urging decisive action to block a murderous plot. The verse showcases God’s providence, the reckless zeal of Paul’s enemies, and the critical role of human choice in God’s unfolding plan. Though forty conspirators lie in wait, the sovereign Lord shields His servant, arranging every detail to carry Paul onward to Rome, just as He promised. Parallel Commentaries ... Greek {Do} not {let}μὴ (mē) Adverb Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether. them αὐτοῖς (autois) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. persuade πεισθῇς (peisthēs) Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 2nd Person Singular Strong's 3982: A primary verb; to convince; by analogy, to pacify or conciliate; reflexively or passively, to assent, to rely. you, σὺ (sy) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou. because γὰρ (gar) Conjunction Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason. more than πλείους (pleious) Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural - Comparative Strong's 4119: Or neuter pleion, or pleon comparative of polus; more in quantity, number, or quality; also the major portion. forty τεσσεράκοντα (tesserakonta) Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural Strong's 5062: Forty. The decade of tessares; forty. men ἄνδρες (andres) Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's 435: A male human being; a man, husband. A primary word; a man. are waiting to ambush ἐνεδρεύουσιν (enedreuousin) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural Strong's 1748: To lie in wait (ambush) for, seek to entrap (hence: I defraud, deceive). From enedra; to lurk, i.e. plot assassination. him. αὐτὸν (auton) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. [They] οἵτινες (hoitines) Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's 3748: Whosoever, whichsoever, whatsoever. have bound themselves with an oath ἀνεθεμάτισαν (anethematisan) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural Strong's 332: To curse, invoke curses, devote to destruction. From anathema; to declare or vow under penalty of execration. not μήτε (mēte) Conjunction Strong's 3383: Nor, neither, not even, neither…nor. From me and te; not too, i.e. neither or nor; also, not even. to eat φαγεῖν (phagein) Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active Strong's 5315: A primary verb; to eat. [or] μήτε (mēte) Conjunction Strong's 3383: Nor, neither, not even, neither…nor. From me and te; not too, i.e. neither or nor; also, not even. drink πιεῖν (piein) Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active Strong's 4095: To drink, imbibe. A prolonged form of pio, which poo occurs only as an alternate in certain tenses; to imbibe. until ἕως (heōs) Preposition Strong's 2193: A conjunction, preposition and adverb of continuance, until. they have killed ἀνέλωσιν (anelōsin) Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural Strong's 337: From ana and haireomai; to take up, i.e. Adopt; by implication, to take away, i.e. Abolish, murder. him; αὐτόν (auton) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. they are εἰσιν (eisin) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. ready ἕτοιμοι (hetoimoi) Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's 2092: Ready, prepared. From an old noun heteos; adjusted, i.e. Ready. now, νῦν (nyn) Adverb Strong's 3568: A primary particle of present time; 'now'; also as noun or adjective present or immediate. awaiting προσδεχόμενοι (prosdechomenoi) Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's 4327: From pros and dechomai; to admit (figuratively) endurance); by implication, to await. your σοῦ (sou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou. consent.” ἐπαγγελίαν (epangelian) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular Strong's 1860: A promise. From epaggello; an announcement. Additonal Resources Acts 23:21 Blue Letter BibleActs 23:21 Bible Gateway Acts 23:21 Bible.com Acts 23:21 NIV |
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