Acts 23:13
There were more than forty who made this conspiracy.
English Standard Version (ESV)
All verses
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Acts 23:13
There were more than forty who made this conspiracy.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This verse highlights the sheer number of people willing to take a life, not just individuals acting alone but a whole group bound by an oath. It shows how deeply entrenched and widespread the opposition to Paul was, revealing a disturbing collective resolve driven by a shared, violent agenda.
Following a violent clash in the temple, Roman soldiers rescued Paul and took him to safety. The next day, over forty zealous Jews took an oath that they would not eat or drink until they had killed Paul, prompting them to approach the religious leaders with a plan to ambush him.
Imagine a group of over forty people, banding together with a dangerous oath. What drives such desperate, deadly resolve?
This verse reveals a chilling plot hatched by more than forty Jewish men. The word for 'conspiracy' here implies an agreement sealed by an oath, a solemn promise to carry out their wicked plan. They weren't just casually discussing getting rid of Paul; they were bound together by a curse, vowing not to eat or drink until he was dead.
This wasn't a spontaneous outburst. It was a deliberate, organized effort. Their motivation? A fierce opposition to Paul's message and ministry, seeing him as a threat to their traditions and authority. This intense zeal, tragically misdirected, led them to plot murder.
Why would such a large group resort to a secret assassination plot instead of pursuing legal means?
The Jewish leaders at this time did not have the authority to carry out a death sentence under Roman rule. Paul was a Roman citizen, further complicating any attempt to execute him through official channels. Therefore, these forty men bypassed the legal system entirely.
Their conspiracy was a desperate measure, born out of frustration and a desire to circumvent Roman authority. They chose a path of violence and ambush, demonstrating their willingness to act outside established law to achieve their goal of silencing Paul.
Understand the original words
syskeuē · Greek Noun
The formal, planned collaboration of persons to perform an evil or unlawful act, often characterized by secrecy and malicious intent.
c. AD 57
Paul arrested in Jerusalem
The Apostle Paul is arrested by Roman authorities in Jerusalem after a riot breaks out, instigated by Jews who accused him of defiling the temple. He is imprisoned for his own safety.
c. AD 57
Paul's Defense before the Jewish Council
Paul defends himself before the Sanhedrin. A violent dispute erupts between the Pharisees and Sadducees, leading the Roman commander to intervene and take Paul back to the barracks.
Night following the defense— this verse
Jewish plot to kill Paul
More than forty Jewish zealots conspire to ambush and kill Paul as he is moved for a fuller inquiry. They bind themselves by an oath not to eat or drink until they succeed.
c. AD 57
Plot revealed and Paul transferred
Paul's nephew overhears the plot and informs Paul, who then alerts the Roman commander. The commander, realizing the danger, arranges for Paul's immediate transfer to Caesarea Maritima under military escort.
c. AD 57
This passage also describes a dangerous conspiracy against a central figure, highlighting how malicious plots can arise and threaten lives.
1 Kings 15:27This verse speaks of a conspiracy formed by individuals against someone in authority, mirroring the dangerous intent seen in Acts 23:13.
Nehemiah 4:11This passage describes enemies plotting to attack and cause confusion, paralleling the hostile intent of the forty men against Paul.
Psalm 140:1-2This psalm expresses a deep cry against wicked men who devise evil and lay traps, reflecting the dangerous situation Paul faced from a plot.
cambridgeActs 23:13: "And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy."
13 . more than forty ] Shewing the excited state of popular feeling at this moment among the Jews. They may have been prompted to this method of getting rid of the Apostle, because they had not the power of life and death any longer, and were not likely to procure Paul’s death at the hands of the Roman authorities, on any accusation connected with a religious question.
pulpitActs 23:13: "And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy."
Verse 13. - Made for had made, A.V. Conspiracy; συνωμοσία, in Latin conjuratio. It only occurs here in the New Testament, but is used occasionally by Diodorus Siculus and other Greek writers. The kindred word συνωμότης is found in the LXX. of Genesis 14:13, rendered "confederate," A.V.
This verse highlights the sheer number of people willing to take a life, not just individuals acting alone but a whole group bound by an oath. It shows how deeply entrenched and widespread the opposition to Paul was, revealing a disturbing collective resolve driven by a shared, violent agenda.
Following a violent clash in the temple, Roman soldiers rescued Paul and took him to safety. The next day, over forty zealous Jews took an oath that they would not eat or drink until they had killed Paul, prompting them to approach the religious leaders with a plan to ambush him.
Following a violent clash in the temple, Roman soldiers rescued Paul and took him to safety. The next day, over forty zealous Jews took an oath that they would not eat or drink until they had killed Paul, prompting them to approach the religious leaders with a plan to ambush him.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Acts 23:13 is available in the Sola app.
Paul imprisoned in Caesarea
Paul arrives in Caesarea and is placed under the jurisdiction of Governor Felix. He would remain imprisoned there for two years, awaiting trial.
"There were more than forty who made this conspiracy." — This verse highlights the sheer number of people willing to take a life, not just individuals acting alone but a whole group bound by an oath. It shows how deeply entrenched and widespread the opposi…