Acts 23:21
What does Acts 23:21 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 23:21 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 23:21 means
He urges the commander not to yield to the request, revealing that more than forty men lie in wait, bound by an oath neither to eat nor drink until they kill Paul, and that they are ready, awaiting the commander’s promise. The details heighten the credibility and urgency of the warning. The conspirators’ vow and numbers make the risk undeniable; the trap hinges on the commander’s consent. By refusing, he can save Paul’s life and uphold justice. The report shows how the enemy’s plan depends on manipulating authority. God’s providence exposes this reliance, enabling the very authority targeted for misuse to thwart the plot.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Do 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611But 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Do 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But do not give way to them, for more than forty of them are waiting for him, having taken an oath not to take food or drink till they have put him to death: and now they are ready, waiting for your order.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862thou, 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.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But 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.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Do not thou then be persuaded by them, for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, who have put themselves under a curse neither to eat nor drink till they kill him; and now they are ready waiting the promise from thee.
Context
Now the plot is fully disclosed—its scale, oath, readiness, and dependence on the commander’s response. The youth’s counsel effectively tells the commander how to defeat the scheme: do not grant the request. The commander will do more than refuse; he will relocate Paul under heavy guard. First, he sends the youth away with instructions to keep silent, protecting the source. Then he mobilizes a large detachment to transfer Paul at night, preempting any attempt at ambush within Jerusalem’s reach.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 20:19
serving the Lord with all lowliness of mind, and with tears, and with trials which befell me by the plots of the Jews;
- 2 Corinthians 11:32
In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king guarded the city of the Damascenes in order to take me:
- Exodus 23:2
Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to turn aside after a multitude to wrest justice:
- 2 Corinthians 11:26
in journeyings often, in perils of rivers, in perils of robbers, in perils from my countrymen, in perils from the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
- 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.
- Acts 23:12
And when it was day, the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
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