Acts 23:21 - Therefore don’t yield to them, for more than forty men lie in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse neither to eat nor to drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, looking for the promise from you.”
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What does "Acts 23:21" mean?
This verse from Acts 23:21 reveals a serious plot against the Apostle Paul's life. Let's break it down:
"Therefore don’t yield to them...": This is a warning. The speaker, who is Paul's nephew, is advising the Roman commander (Claudius Lysias) not to grant the request of the Jewish leaders to bring Paul before the council again.
"...for more than forty men lie in wait for him...": This indicates that a group of over forty men have formed a conspiracy. They are lying in ambush, waiting for an opportunity to assassinate Paul.
"...who have bound themselves under a curse neither to eat nor to drink until they have killed him.": This is the most shocking part. These men have taken a solemn oath, binding themselves with a curse. They vow that they will abstain from food and water until they have succeeded in killing Paul. This shows their extreme dedication and fanaticism. It also highlights the depth of the hatred some held for Paul.
"Now they are ready, looking for the promise from you.”: The assassins are prepared to act immediately. They are waiting for the Roman commander to agree to bring Paul back before the Sanhedrin, as this would provide the opportunity they need to carry out their plan. They need the commander to give the signal (the "promise") by agreeing to the request.
In essence, this verse reveals:
A serious assassination plot: A group of Jewish men are determined to murder Paul.
Fanatical commitment: They have taken a binding oath and are willing to starve themselves to death if it means achieving their goal.
Deception: They are attempting to use the Roman authorities to carry out their plan, disguising their intentions behind a request for a hearing.
Urgency: The plot is already in motion, and immediate action is needed to prevent the assassination.
This intelligence allows the Roman commander to take decisive action and ensure Paul's safety by sending him to Caesarea under heavy guard, thus thwarting the assassination attempt.
Acts 23:21 - Therefore don’t yield to them, for more than forty men lie in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse neither to eat nor to drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, looking for the promise from you.”
What does "Acts 23:21" mean?
This verse from Acts 23:21 reveals a serious plot against the Apostle Paul's life. Let's break it down:
"Therefore don’t yield to them...": This is a warning. The speaker, who is Paul's nephew, is advising the Roman commander (Claudius Lysias) not to grant the request of the Jewish leaders to bring Paul before the council again.
"...for more than forty men lie in wait for him...": This indicates that a group of over forty men have formed a conspiracy. They are lying in ambush, waiting for an opportunity to assassinate Paul.
"...who have bound themselves under a curse neither to eat nor to drink until they have killed him.": This is the most shocking part. These men have taken a solemn oath, binding themselves with a curse. They vow that they will abstain from food and water until they have succeeded in killing Paul. This shows their extreme dedication and fanaticism. It also highlights the depth of the hatred some held for Paul.
"Now they are ready, looking for the promise from you.”: The assassins are prepared to act immediately. They are waiting for the Roman commander to agree to bring Paul back before the Sanhedrin, as this would provide the opportunity they need to carry out their plan. They need the commander to give the signal (the "promise") by agreeing to the request.
In essence, this verse reveals:
A serious assassination plot: A group of Jewish men are determined to murder Paul.
Fanatical commitment: They have taken a binding oath and are willing to starve themselves to death if it means achieving their goal.
Deception: They are attempting to use the Roman authorities to carry out their plan, disguising their intentions behind a request for a hearing.
Urgency: The plot is already in motion, and immediate action is needed to prevent the assassination.
This intelligence allows the Roman commander to take decisive action and ensure Paul's safety by sending him to Caesarea under heavy guard, thus thwarting the assassination attempt.