When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This wasn't just a spontaneous mob; these men made a solemn, self-cursing oath, dedicating themselves to destruction if they didn't succeed. They bound themselves not to eat or drink, revealing a fanatical devotion to murder that prioritized their oath above their own physical well-being and even life itself.
When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The night before, Paul received encouragement from Jesus that he would testify about Him in Rome, just as he had in Jerusalem. As soon as day broke, however, a group of over forty Jews, fanatically determined to kill Paul, took a solemn oath not to eat or drink until they succeeded. This dangerous conspiracy immediately sought to involve the chief priests and elders, devising a plan to have Paul brought before them so they could assassinate him.
Imagine swearing to never eat or drink again until a specific, violent act is accomplished. What does this extreme vow reveal about the hearts of those who made it?
The text says these Jews 'bound themselves under a curse.' This wasn't a casual promise; it was an oath invoking God's wrath upon themselves if they failed.
The Devotion to Destruction
This extreme measure, known as an 'anathema' or 'cherem,' meant they considered themselves cursed and devoted to destruction if they didn't succeed. It was a way to force their hand, making their murderous intent a matter of divine judgment upon themselves.
Motives Behind the Madness
This wasn't just any group of angry people. They were likely Zealots or Sicarii, fanatic groups who believed they were executing God's judgment on perceived blasphemers or apostates, much like historical figures who took such actions. Their logic was twisted: Paul was an outlaw in their eyes, and private citizens could, and should, carry out his execution.
Paul had just had a vision from the Lord, promising him safety and a future mission. Yet, as day broke, a violent plot was already in motion. What fueled this immediate and intense hatred?
This plot wasn't born out of a sudden whim. It stemmed from a deep-seated, inflamed animosity towards Paul and his message.
Taking Justice into Their Own Hands
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The Jews saw Paul as a threat, a blasphemer, or an apostate. Frustrated that the Roman authorities weren't dealing with him as they wished, they decided to bypass the legal system entirely. This was a direct challenge to Roman authority and a dangerous sign of their willingness to resort to murder.
The Conspiracy's Reach
More than forty men were involved in this conspiracy, showing the widespread and organized nature of the opposition against Paul. Their immediate strategy was to deceive the authorities, requesting Paul be brought before them under false pretenses so they could ambush and kill him.
Understand the original words
anathema · Greek Noun
A solemn pronouncement or vow made before God, often accompanied by a self-imposed penalty or condition, intended to guarantee the performance of an action or the truthfulness of a statement.
This violent plot highlights the extreme fervor and radical interpretations of Jewish law some held, believing they were justified in taking a life to uphold their understanding of religious purity, even resorting to deadly oaths.
c. AD 30-33
Paul's Conversion and Early Ministry
Saul of Tarsus, a persecutor of Christians, is dramatically converted and begins his ministry, eventually becoming the apostle to the Gentiles.
c. AD 46-49
Paul's First Missionary Journey
Paul, along with Barnabas, travels through Asia Minor, establishing churches and facing significant opposition. This marks the beginning of his extensive missionary work.
c. AD 50
Council of Jerusalem
A pivotal council addresses the issue of Gentile inclusion in the early church, deciding they do not need to follow all Jewish laws. This decision would have been a point of contention for some zealous Jews.
c. AD 53-57
Paul's Third Missionary Journey
Paul spends extended periods in Ephesus and Corinth, continuing to spread the Gospel but also encountering increasing resistance and controversy, leading to unrest.
c. AD 57
Paul's Arrest in Jerusalem
Paul returns to Jerusalem and is arrested by Jewish authorities in the Temple after being falsely accused of bringing Gentiles into the sacred area, sparking a riot.
c. AD 57— this verse
Paul Before the Sanhedrin
Paul is brought before the Sanhedrin, where a fierce dispute erupts between the Pharisees and Sadducees, revealing deep divisions within Jewish leadership. Paul is then moved to the Roman barracks for safety.
c. AD 57
The Plot to Kill Paul
Over forty Jewish men swear a solemn oath to kill Paul, approaching the religious leaders to facilitate a plan to bring Paul out for a trial. This demonstrates the intense hatred and violent intent directed towards him.
This passage highlights Elijah's challenge to the Israelites, asking them how long they would waver between two opinions, similar to how these Jews were fanatically committed to a destructive path, showing how easily people can be led to extreme actions when their beliefs are unbalanced.
Job 1:5In Job, we see that Job would 'consecrate' or 'sanctify' his children, offering sacrifices regularly. This contrasts sharply with the 'consecration' or 'devotion' to destruction these Jews enacted through their curse, demonstrating a twisted use of religious language for evil purposes.
Matthew 27:25The cry of the crowd, 'His blood be on us and on our children!' shows a similar self-cursing and willingness to bear the consequences of their actions, mirroring the deadly resolve of the plotters against Paul.
Romans 9:3Paul himself uses the concept of being 'accursed' or 'anathema' for the sake of his people, highlighting the gravity of such vows, which these men twisted into a tool for murder.
ellicottActs 23:12: "And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul."
(12) Certain of the Jews banded together . . . —The casuistry of the more fanatic Jews led them to the conclusion that a blasphemer or apostate was an outlaw, and that, in the absence of any judicial condemnation, private persons might take on themselves the execution of the divine sentence. So, they may have argued,…
barnesActs 23:12: "And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul."
Certain of the Jews - Some of the Jews. They were more than forty in number, Acts 23:13 . Banded together - Made an agreement or compact. They conspired to kill him. And bound themselves under a curse - See the margin. The Greek is, "they anathematized themselves"; that is, they bound themselves by a solemn oath. They…
This wasn't just a spontaneous mob; these men made a solemn, self-cursing oath, dedicating themselves to destruction if they didn't succeed. They bound themselves not to eat or drink, revealing a fanatical devotion to murder that prioritized their oath above their own physical well-being and even life itself.
The night before, Paul received encouragement from Jesus that he would testify about Him in Rome, just as he had in Jerusalem. As soon as day broke, however, a group of over forty Jews, fanatically determined to kill Paul, took a solemn oath not to eat or drink until they succeeded. This dangerous conspiracy immediately sought to involve the chief priests and elders, devising a plan to have Paul brought before them so they could assassinate him.
The night before, Paul received encouragement from Jesus that he would testify about Him in Rome, just as he had in Jerusalem. As soon as day broke, however, a group of over forty Jews, fanatically determined to kill Paul, took a solemn oath not to eat or drink until they succeeded. This dangerous conspiracy immediately sought to involve the chief priests and elders, devising a plan to have Paul brought before them so they could assassinate him.
"When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul." — This wasn't just a spontaneous mob; these men made a solemn, self-cursing oath, dedicating themselves to destruction if they didn't succeed. They bound themselves not to eat or drink, revealing a fan…
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Last reviewed October 2026