Page 19 - acts_study_book4

PAUL IS INFORMED OF A CONSPIRACY

Act 23:16 So when Paul's sister's son heard of their ambush, he went and entered the barracks
and told Paul.

Apparently Paul’s nephew was at the meeting or had connections through someone who was
born again where he learned of the conspiracy against Paul. Many times Paul has known of
danger in his own spirit (9:24; 20:3), but this time God uses natural circumstances.

PAUL’S NEPHEW IS TAKEN TO THE CHIEF CAPTAIN (17-22)

Paul calls one of the guards and asks him to take his nephew to the chief captain. Paul’s
nephew is taken before the chief captain and reveals the plot of the Jews to kill Paul.

Act 23:17 Then Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, "Take this young man to the
commander, for he has something to tell him."

Then Paul called one of the centurions (a guard) unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto
the chief captain (chiliarcho: commander of a thousand soldiers [21:31]): for he hath a certain
thing to tell him.

Act 23:18 So he took him and brought him to the commander and said, "Paul the prisoner
called me to him and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to say to
you."

Paul’s nephew tells the chief captain of the assassination plot. The captain represents all that is
great in Rome. He handles this by law and order, not personal ambition.

Act 23:19 Then the commander took him by the hand, went aside, and asked privately, "What
is it that you have to tell me?"

Act 23:20 And he said, "The Jews have agreed to ask that you bring Paul down to the council
tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire more fully about him.

Act 23:21 But do not yield to them, for more than forty of them lie in wait for him, men who
have bound themselves by an oath that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him;
and now they are ready, waiting for the promise from you."

Act 23:22 So the commander let the young man depart, and commanded him, "Tell no one that
you have revealed these things to me."

The guard kept the whole event secret for Paul’s protection because Paul was a Roman citizen.

THE CAPTAIN’S PLAN (23-24)

The captain calls two centurions and instructs them to gather 470 military men ready to protect
Paul as they deliver him to Caesarea to stand before Felix, the governor.