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    Acts Chapter 23:12-25
    Lesson 274    ​
    ​
    Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

    In this lesson: 
     
    Conspiracy to commit murder (23:12-15).
     
    Paul's nephew saves his life (23:16-22). 
     
    To Caesarea and Felix (23:23-25).         

    ​Paul in prison. 
    By the Dutch artist Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606-1669).
    ​Who was -
     
    Felix -
    Antonius Felix was one of Pontius Pilates's successors as the Roman procurator (governor) of Judea (AD 52-59).  His headquarters was in Caesarea, seventy miles northwest of Jerusalem.  Felix was the first man born a slave to become a Roman governor.  The Roman historian Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus attributes the appointment to Felix's military heroics.  While in office, Felix carried on an adulterous affair with Herod Agrippa's sixteen-year-old daughter Drusilla, who ultimately left her husband to become Felix's third wife.  With a reputation for cruelty, Felix was eventually summoned to Rome to face charges of brutally against the Jews.  His well-placed brother Pallas put in a good word for him with the Roman emperor Nero and no action was taken against him.  Felix served out his term and was replaced by Porcius Festus in AD 60.
    Study Tip:
     
    It helps to study more than one translation of the Bible.  As you read each lesson, scroll back and forth between the "King James Version" and the "New Living Translation" below.

    Also, check the margin notes in blue and click on the links.      ​

    The Acts of the Apostles

    The King James Bible    ​



    Acts 23:12-25
    The murder plot 

    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.

    13 And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.

    14 And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.

    15 Now 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.

    16 And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.

    17 Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him.

    18 So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee.

    19 Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that thou hast to tell me?

    20 And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly.

    21 But 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.

    22 So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast shewed these things to me.

    23 And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;

    24 And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.

    25 And he wrote a letter after this manner:

    ​
    Margin notes:
     
    "Bound themselves under a curse." (23:12) - This was an oath, a vow similar to a cherem where people asked God to curse them if they failed to fulfill the oath.  In verse 23:14, the conspirators asked for help from the "chief priests and elders" in their murder plot against Paul.  Unbelievably, the religious leaders agree!  This was not the first plot against Paul's life (Acts 9:23).  Additional note:  In John 16:2 (lesson 203), Jesus predicted that people would come to believe murdering Christians was doing God's work.
     
    "Which had made this conspiracy." (23:13) - "Who planned this scheme."    
     
    "We will eat nothing until we have slain Paul." (23:14) - Forty men tell their priests that they are going to kill a man, and the priests help them.
     
    "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." (23:15) - Means, "The council should ask the chief captain (Claudius Lysias) to bring him (Paul) down tomorrow so you can question him more." 
     
    "And we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him." (23:15) - "And we, whenever he gets close, are ready to kill him."
     
    "Paul's sister's son." (23:16) - This is the Bible's only reference to Paul's family.
     
    "Bring this young man unto the chief captain." (23:17) - "Bring this young man (Paul's nephew) to the chief captain (Claudius Lysias).
     
    "Prayed me." (23:18) - "Asked me."
     
    "The Jews have agreed to desire thee." (23:20) - "The Jews have agreed to ask you."
     
    "Have bound themselves with an oath." (23:21) - "Have pledged themselves with a vow."
     
    "Charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast shewed these things to me." (23:22) - "Ordered him, see that you tell no one that you told me this."
     
    "Horsemen threescore and ten." (23:23) - "Seventy cavalrymen."
     
    "Third hour of the night." (23:23) - Claudius Lysias planned to slip Paul out of Jerusalem at 9 PM, under cover of darkness. 
     
    "Provide them beasts." (23:24) - "Provide them horses." 


                                                  New Living Translation 
     

    Acts 23:12-25
    ​    The Plan to Kill Paul
     
    12 The next morning a group of Jews got together and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.

    13 There were more than forty of them in the conspiracy.

    14 They went to the leading priests and elders and told them, "We have bound ourselves with an oath to eat nothing until we have killed Paul.

    15 So you and the high council should ask the commander to bring Paul back to the council again. Pretend you want to examine his case more fully. We will kill him on the way."
     
    16 But Paul's nephew-his sister's son-heard of their plan and went to the fortress and told Paul.

    17 Paul called for one of the Roman officers and said, "Take this young man to the commander. He has something important to tell him."
     
    18 So the officer did, explaining, "Paul, the prisoner, called me over and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you."
     
    19 The commander took his hand, led him aside, and asked, "What is it you want to tell me?"
     
    20 Paul's nephew told him, "Some Jews are going to ask you to bring Paul before the high council tomorrow, pretending they want to get some more information.

    21 But don't do it! There are more than forty men hiding along the way ready to ambush him. They have vowed not to eat or drink anything until they have killed him. They are ready now, just waiting for your consent."
     
    22 "Don't let anyone know you told me this," the commander warned the young man.
     
    Paul Is Sent to Caesarea
     
    23 Then the commander called two of his officers and ordered, "Get 200 soldiers ready to leave for Caesarea at nine o'clock tonight. Also take 200 spearmen and 70 mounted troops.

    ​24 Provide horses for Paul to ride, and get him safely to Governor Felix."
     
    25 Then he wrote this letter to the governor:

    This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible.  However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
    Today's Question:
     
    1.     Why did Claudius Lysias send Paul to Felix?  (23:24)



    Questions?  We'll do our best to answer them.
    Answer: (Do you agree?) 
    ​
    1. Claudius sent Paul to Felix, the Roman governor, for two reasons.  First, Felix was in Caesarea, the Roman capital of Judea and home base for a large contingent of Roman soldiers.  Claudius knew that Paul would be safer in Caesarea.  But the most compelling reason for sending Paul to Caesarea is given in Acts 23:11.  Our Lord wanted Paul in Rome, and Caesarea, a port city on the Mediterranean Sea, was the first step in the journey to get him there.     ​
    Application thought for the day: 
     
    What spiritual lessons can you find in this passage that could change your life? ​ 
    Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible."  All were critical in putting these lessons together.
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