12 The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. 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. 15 Now then, you and the Sanhedrin 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 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, 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 tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him. 21 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.”
22 The commander dismissed the young man with this warning: “Don’t tell anyone that you have reported this to me.” Acts 23: 12-22 LSB
Acts 23: 12-22
Vs. 12-14 Neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul - Not just a hunger strike, but a conspiracy to murder. It sounds great at the time, when you're all drunk on rage and boasting with your buddies, yeah, we are going to this thing, make a pact, and possibly starve to death or look really stupid. Humans love ceremony and symbolism, but don't be confused, that stuff doesn't make what you are doing right or wise. The Bible speaks to this and these Jewish men would know that. People swear all the time, and in a day and age when words have lost meaning because truth is no longer esteemed, we forget that the One Who spoke the world into existence puts a premium upon words, saying, "thou shalt not lie" as in Leviticus 19, or "bear false witness" in Exodus 20.
1Now Ahab told Jezebel everything that Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “May the gods deal with me, and ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like the lives of those you killed!” 3And Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there,… 1 Kings 19: 1-3
…28Nothing that a man sets apart to the LORD from all he owns—whether a man, an animal, or his inherited land—can be sold or redeemed; everything so devoted is most holy to the LORD. 29No person set apart for destruction may be ransomed; he must surely be put to death. Leviticus 27: 28-29
24Now 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. 25Then all the troops entered the forest, and there was honey on the ground.…
…26And when they entered the forest and saw the flowing honey, not one of them put his hand to his mouth, because they feared the oath. 27Jonathan, however, had not heard that his father had charged the people with the oath. So he reached out the end of the staff in his hand, dipped it into the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes brightened. 28Then one of the soldiers told him, “Your father bound the troops with a solemn oath, saying, ‘Cursed is the man who eats food today.’ That is why the people are faint.”… 1 Samuel 14: 24-28
33Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ 34But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.… Matthew 5: 33-35
v. 15 On the pretext of wanting more accurate information - So they went to the Sanhedrin which would be like the Jewish Supreme Court, only this was under the time of Roman rule and Paul is a Roman citizen, so they are outside of their jurisdiction. This is how bad they hated Paul, 40 men, and now bringing in the religious rulers. They have lost their minds, and must be getting hungry now, so they seek help to speed up the process.
Longenecker - They pledged that they would kill him as he was brought from the Fortress of Antonia north of the temple to the hall of the Sanhedrin southwest of the temple area. (Ibid)
Jack Arnold - 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). - PA
Vs. 16-19 But when the son of Paul's sister heard this plot - This is some fascinating information, that Paul had family still alive, that they were this close to the Sanhedrin; very providential. Did his nephew become a believer or was he just sane enough to realize this was over the top? Awe, so many questions this brings up, but I can't find the answers.
Jack Andrews - No matter how hard the men tried, how much the men connived, the plans of men cannot override the providence of God. St. Augustine wrote, “Trust the past to the mercy of God, the present to His love, and the future to His providence. (Ibid)
But - And what a term of contrast this is! God just happens to have the son of Paul's sister within earshot of the discussion of the plot to kill Paul! Talk about coincidence! God is behind all "coincidences" in our life!
The son of Paul's sister heard of their ambush - Luke does not tell us where this young man overheard the plot, but presumably they are still in the council chambers. God makes sure that he hears the details of the plot. - PA
18Let no one deceive himself. If any of you thinks he is wise in this age, he should become a fool, so that he may become wise. 19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.” 20And again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”… 1 Corinthians 3: 18-20
Vs. 20-22 Don't tell anyone that you have reported this to me - I have seen men plot before and it not go according to plan. I also leave room here for grace because some have plotted and then changed their minds, and even come to respect the person they initially hated.
MacArthur - If the conspirators realized their plot had been uncovered, they would undoubtedly have abandoned it and formulated another. And if that one were not discovered, Lysias reasoned, Paul might be killed. Further, if the Jews did not know that he knew of the plot, they could not question his motives for sending Paul to Caesarea. (Ibid) - PA
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