Acts 23:15
What does Acts 23:15 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 23:15 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 23:15 means
They urge the council to ask the chief captain to bring Paul down as if to examine him more carefully, while promising to kill him before he arrives. The plan relies on deceit—appearing to seek justice while intending murder—and on cooperation from both religious and military authorities. It shows how far injustice will go to disguise itself as prudence. The conspirators are confident, having numbers and a plausible pretext. Yet their confidence overlooks God’s oversight and the integrity of the Roman officer. Their scheme also underestimates the protective networks God has placed around Paul. In a chapter about providence, human cunning proves no match for divine foresight.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Now therefore do ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you, as though ye would judge of his case more exactly: and we, before he comes near, are ready to slay him.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Now therefore do ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you, as though ye would judge of his case more exactly: and we, before he comes near, are ready to slay him.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949So now, will you and the Sanhedrin make a request to the military authorities to have him sent down to you, as if you were desiring to go into the business in greater detail; and we, before ever he gets to you, will be waiting to put him to death.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862now, therefore, ye, signify ye to the chief captain, with the sanhedrim, that to-morrow he may bring him down unto you, as being about to know more exactly the things concerning him; and we, before his coming nigh, are ready to put him to death.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Now therefore do you with the council signify to the tribune, that he bring him forth to you, as if you meant to know something more certain touching him. And we, before he come near, are ready to kill him.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Now therefore do ye with the council make a representation to the chiliarch so that he may bring him down to you, as about to determine more precisely what concerns him, and we, before he draws near, are ready to kill him.
Context
The plot is laid out in detail: a request to the Romans for another council session, masking an ambush in the route. Readers now see the danger looming and the dependence on institutional complicity. Next, Luke will show how the plot leaks—Paul’s nephew hears of it and informs Paul. The story shifts from secret planning to urgent reporting, initiating a chain of steps that will reach the chief captain. The speed of communication and the Roman willingness to act decisively will foil the ambush entirely.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Romans 3:14
Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
- Proverbs 1:11
If they say, Come with us, Let us lay wait for blood; Let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause;
- Proverbs 1:16
For their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood.
- Psalms 21:11
For they intended evil against thee; They conceived a device which they are not able to perform.
- Isaiah 59:7
Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; desolation and destruction are in their paths.
- Acts 25:3
asking a favor against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem; laying a plot to kill him on the way.
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