Daily Bread

The Plot to Kill Paul

¹² The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy^(A) and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.^{(B) 13} More than forty men were involved in this plot. ¹⁴ They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.^{(C) 15} Now then, you and the Sanhedrin^(D) petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.”

¹⁶ But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks^(E) and told Paul.

¹⁷ Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.” ¹⁸ So he took him to the commander.

The centurion said, “Paul, the prisoner,^(F) sent for me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.”

¹⁹ The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked, “What is it you want to tell me?”

²⁰ He said: “Some Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin^(G) tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him.^{(H) 21} Don’t give in to them, because more than forty^(I) of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him.^(J) They are ready now, waiting for your consent to their request.”

²² The commander dismissed the young man with this warning: “Don’t tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”

Paul Transferred to Caesarea

²³ Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen^[a] to go to Caesarea^(K) at nine tonight.^{(L) 24} Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”^(M)

²⁵ He wrote a letter as follows:

³¹ So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul with them during the night and brought him as far as Antipatris. ³² The next day they let the cavalry^(Y) go on with him, while they returned to the barracks.^{(Z) 33} When the cavalry^(AA) arrived in Caesarea,^(AB) they delivered the letter to the governor^(AC) and handed Paul over to him. ³⁴ The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,^{(AD) 35} he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers^(AE) get here.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard^(AF) in Herod’s palace.