Focused Passage

Acts 23:11-22

The Lord Stands Near Paul and Preserves His Witness

Paul testifies before the Sanhedrin, exposes the resurrection issue, receives the Lord’s promise of witness in Rome, escapes a murder plot through providential disclosure, and is transferred under Roman protection to Caesarea.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so also you must testify in Rome.”

12 When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.

13 More than forty of them were involved in this plot.

14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with 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 down to you on the pretext of examining his case more carefully. We are ready to kill him on the way.”

16 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the 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 the centurion took him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner sent and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.”

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

20 He 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.”

22 So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, “Do not tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 11

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction The Τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular following ἐπιούσῃ G1966 Verb - Present Participle Active - Dative Feminine Singular night νυκτὶ G3571 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Lord Κύριος G2962 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular stood near ἐπιστὰς G2186 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular [Paul] αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular [and] said εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Take courage Θάρσει G2293 Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular - γὰρ G1063 Conjunction As ὡς G5613 Adverb you have testified διεμαρτύρω G1263 Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 2nd Person Singular - τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural about περὶ G4012 Preposition Me ἐμοῦ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular in εἰς G1519 Preposition Jerusalem Ἰερουσαλὴμ G2419 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular so οὕτω G3779 Adverb also καὶ G2532 Conjunction you σε G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular must δεῖ G1163 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular testify μαρτυρῆσαι G3140 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active in εἰς G1519 Preposition Rome Ῥώμην G4516 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Verse 12

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction When daylight came Γενομένης G1096 Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Genitive Feminine Singular . . . ἡμέρας G2250 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular the οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural Jews Ἰουδαῖοι G2453 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural formed ποιήσαντες G4160 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural a conspiracy συστροφὴν G4963 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular and bound themselves with an oath ἀνεθεμάτισαν G332 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural . . . ἑαυτοὺς G1438 Reflexive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural . . . λέγοντες G3004 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural not μήτε G3383 Conjunction to eat φαγεῖν G5315 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active [or] μήτε G3383 Conjunction drink πιεῖν G4095 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active until ἕως G2193 Preposition . . . οὗ G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular they had killed ἀποκτείνωσιν G615 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular Paul Παῦλον G3972 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Verse 13

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction More than πλείους G4119 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural - Comparative forty [of them] τεσσεράκοντα G5062 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural - οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural were ἦσαν G1510 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural involved ποιησάμενοι G4160 Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Plural in this ταύτην G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Feminine Singular - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular plot συνωμοσίαν G4945 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Verse 14

Original words

They οἵτινες G3748 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural went προσελθόντες G4334 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural to the τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural chief priests ἀρχιερεῦσιν G749 Noun - Dative Masculine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction - τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural elders πρεσβυτέροις G4245 Adjective - Dative Masculine Plural [and] said εἶπαν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural We have bound ἀνεθεματίσαμεν G332 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural ourselves ἑαυτοὺς G1438 Reflexive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural with a solemn oath Ἀναθέματι G331 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular [not] to eat γεύσασθαι G1089 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Middle [anything] μηδενὸς G3367 Adjective - Genitive Neuter Singular until ἕως G2193 Preposition . . . οὗ G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular we have killed ἀποκτείνωμεν G615 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Plural - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular Paul Παῦλον G3972 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Verse 15

Original words

Now νῦν G3568 Adverb then οὖν G3767 Conjunction you ὑμεῖς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural and σὺν G4862 Preposition the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Singular Sanhedrin συνεδρίῳ G4892 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular petition ἐμφανίσατε G1718 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular commander χιλιάρχῳ G5506 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular to ὅπως G3704 Conjunction bring him down καταγάγῃ G2609 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular to εἰς G1519 Preposition you ὑμᾶς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural on the pretext ὡς G5613 Adverb . . . μέλλοντας G3195 Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Plural of examining διαγινώσκειν G1231 Verb - Present Infinitive Active his case τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural . . . περὶ G4012 Preposition . . . αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular more carefully ἀκριβέστερον G199 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular - Comparative - δὲ G1161 Conjunction We ἡμεῖς G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Plural are ἐσμεν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural ready ἕτοιμοί G2092 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular to kill ἀνελεῖν G337 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active him αὐτόν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular on the way πρὸ G4253 Preposition . . . αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular . . . τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular . . . ἐγγίσαι G1448 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Verse 16

Original words

But [when] δὲ G1161 Conjunction the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular son υἱὸς G5207 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular of Paul’s Παύλου G3972 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular sister ἀδελφῆς G79 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular heard about Ἀκούσας G191 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular plot ἐνέδραν G1747 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular he went παραγενόμενος G3854 Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Singular . . . καὶ G2532 Conjunction . . . εἰσελθὼν G1525 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular into εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular barracks παρεμβολὴν G3925 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular [and] told ἀπήγγειλεν G518 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular Paul Παύλῳ G3972 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular

BSB notes

  • Or the ambush
Verse 17

Original words

Then δὲ G1161 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Paul Παῦλος G3972 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular called προσκαλεσάμενος G4341 Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Singular one ἕνα G1520 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular of the τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural centurions ἑκατονταρχῶν G1543 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural [and] said ἔφη G5346 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Take ἄπαγε G520 Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular this τοῦτον G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular - Τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular young man νεανίαν G3494 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular to πρὸς G4314 Preposition the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular commander χιλίαρχον G5506 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular - γὰρ G1063 Conjunction he has ἔχει G2192 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular something τι G5100 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular to tell ἀπαγγεῖλαί G518 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active him αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Verse 18

Original words

So οὖν G3767 Conjunction - μὲν G3303 Particle [the centurion] G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular took him παραλαβὼν G3880 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular . . . αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular . . . ἤγαγεν G71 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular to πρὸς G4314 Preposition the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular commander χιλίαρχον G5506 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction said φησίν G5346 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Paul Παῦλος G3972 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular prisoner δέσμιος G1198 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular sent προσκαλεσάμενός G4341 Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Singular [and] asked ἠρώτησεν G2065 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular me με G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular to bring ἀγαγεῖν G71 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active this τοῦτον G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular young man νεανίσκον G3495 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular to πρὸς G4314 Preposition you σέ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular He has ἔχοντά G2192 Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Singular something τι G5100 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular to tell λαλῆσαί G2980 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active you σοι G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular
Verse 19

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction The G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular commander χιλίαρχος G5506 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular took Ἐπιλαβόμενος G1949 Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Singular [the young man] αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular by the τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular hand χειρὸς G5495 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction drew [him] ἀναχωρήσας G402 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular vvv κατ’ G2596 Preposition aside ἰδίαν G2398 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular and asked ἐπυνθάνετο G4441 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular What Τί G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular vvv ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular vvv G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular do you need ἔχεις G2192 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular to tell ἀπαγγεῖλαί G518 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active me μοι G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular
Verse 20

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction He answered Εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - ὅτι G3754 Conjunction The Οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural Jews Ἰουδαῖοι G2453 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural have agreed συνέθεντο G4934 Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular to ask ἐρωτῆσαί G2065 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active you σε G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular to ὅπως G3704 Conjunction bring καταγάγῃς G2609 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Singular - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular Paul Παῦλον G3972 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular to εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular Sanhedrin συνέδριον G4892 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular tomorrow αὔριον G839 Adverb on the pretext ὡς G5613 Adverb . . . μέλλον* G3195 Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Neuter Singular of acquiring πυνθάνεσθαι G4441 Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive more information ἀκριβέστερον G199 Adverb . . . τι G5100 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular about περὶ G4012 Preposition him αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Verse 21

Original words

- οὖν G3767 Conjunction {Do} not {let} μὴ G3361 Adverb them αὐτοῖς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural persuade πεισθῇς G3982 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 2nd Person Singular you σὺ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular because γὰρ G1063 Conjunction more than πλείους G4119 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural - Comparative forty τεσσεράκοντα G5062 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural - ἐξ G1537 Preposition - αὐτῶν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural men ἄνδρες G435 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural are waiting to ambush ἐνεδρεύουσιν G1748 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural him αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular [They] οἵτινες G3748 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural have bound themselves with an oath ἀνεθεμάτισαν G332 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural . . . ἑαυτοὺς G1438 Reflexive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural not μήτε G3383 Conjunction to eat φαγεῖν G5315 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active [or] μήτε G3383 Conjunction drink πιεῖν G4095 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active until ἕως G2193 Preposition . . . οὗ G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular they have killed ἀνέλωσιν G337 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural him αὐτόν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction they are εἰσιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural ready ἕτοιμοι G2092 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural now νῦν G3568 Adverb awaiting προσδεχόμενοι G4327 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular vvv ἀπὸ G575 Preposition your σοῦ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular consent ἐπαγγελίαν G1860 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Verse 22

Original words

So οὖν G3767 Conjunction - μὲν G3303 Conjunction the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular commander χιλίαρχος G5506 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular dismissed ἀπέλυσε G630 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular young man νεανίσκον G3495 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular and instructed [him] παραγγείλας G3853 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular Do not tell ἐκλαλῆσαι G1583 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active [anyone] Μηδενὶ G3367 Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction you have reported ἐνεφάνισας G1718 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular this ταῦτα G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural to πρὸς G4314 Preposition me ἐμέ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.