Acts 23:12 When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.

◄ Acts 23:12 ►

New International Version
The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.

New Living Translation
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.

English Standard Version
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.

Berean Standard Bible
When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.

Berean Literal Bible
Then when it was day, the Jews having made a conspiracy, put themselves under an oath, declaring neither to eat nor to drink until they should kill Paul.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
And when it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

New American Standard Bible
When it was day, the Jews formed a conspiracy and put themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.

NASB 1995
When it was day, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.

NASB 1977
And when it was day, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now when it was day, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.

Amplified Bible
Now when day came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under an oath (curse), saying that they would not eat or drink until they had killed Paul.

Christian Standard Bible
When it was morning, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When it was day, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under a curse: neither to eat nor to drink until they had killed Paul.

American Standard Version
And when it was day, the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

English Revised Version
And when it was day, the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
In the morning the Jews formed a conspiracy. They asked God to curse them if they ate or drank anything before they had killed Paul.

Good News Translation
The next morning some Jews met together and made a plan. They took a vow that they would not eat or drink anything until they had killed Paul.

International Standard Version
In the morning, the Jewish leaders formed a conspiracy and took an oath not to eat or drink anything before they had killed Paul.

Majority Standard Bible
When daylight came, some of the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.

NET Bible
When morning came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink anything until they had killed Paul.

New Heart English Bible
When it was day, the Jews formed a conspiracy, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

Weymouth New Testament
Now, when daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and solemnly swore not to eat or drink till they had killed Paul.

World English Bible
When it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And day having come, certain of the Jews having made a concourse, cursed themselves, saying neither to eat nor to drink until they may kill Paul;

Berean Literal Bible
Then when it was day, the Jews having made a conspiracy, put themselves under an oath, declaring neither to eat nor to drink until they should kill Paul.

Young's Literal Translation
And day having come, certain of the Jews having made a concourse, did anathematize themselves, saying neither to eat nor to drink till they may kill Paul;

Smith's Literal Translation
And it being day, certain of the Jews having made a condition, anathematized themselves, saying, neither to eat or drink till they kill Paul.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And when day was come, some of the Jews gathered together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying, that they would neither eat, nor drink, till they killed Paul.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And when daylight arrived, some of the Jews gathered together and bound themselves with an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.

New American Bible
When day came, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.

New Revised Standard Version
In the morning the Jews joined in a conspiracy and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And when it was morning, certain of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under oath, that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And when it was dawn, some of the Jews gathered together and put a curse upon themselves that they would neither eat nor drink until they would kill Paulus.

NT Translations

Anderson New Testament
And when it was day, the Jews combined together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying, that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

Godbey New Testament
And it being day, the Jews having formed a conspiracy, obligated themselves by an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they might kill Paul.

Haweis New Testament
Then as soon as it was day, some of the Jews forming a conspiracy, bound themselves under the direst imprecation, declaring that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

Mace New Testament
when it was day, some Jews, that had form'd a conspiracy, engag'd themselves by an oath, not to eat, or drink, till they had kill'd Paul.

Weymouth New Testament
Now, when daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and solemnly swore not to eat or drink till they had killed Paul.

Worrell New Testament
And, when it was day, the Jews, making a conspiracy, bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink, till they had killed Paul.

Worsley New Testament
And when it was day, some of the Jews, having formed a conspiracy, bound themselves with a curse, saying, that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Plot to Kill Paul
11The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so also you must testify in Rome.” 12 When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. 13More than forty of them were involved in this plot.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Acts 9:23-24
After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, / but Saul learned of their plot. Day and night they watched the city gates in order to kill him.

Acts 25:3
to grant them a concession against Paul by summoning him to Jerusalem, because they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way.

Acts 22:22
The crowd listened to Paul until he made this statement. Then they lifted up their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He is not fit to live!”

Acts 21:31
While they were trying to kill him, the commander of the Roman regiment received a report that all Jerusalem was in turmoil.

Acts 14:5-6
But when the Gentiles and Jews, together with their rulers, set out to mistreat and stone them, / they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding region,

Acts 20:3
where he stayed three months. And when the Jews formed a plot against him as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia.

Acts 13:50
The Jews, however, incited the religious women of prominence and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of their district.

Acts 4:27-28
In fact, this is the very city where Herod and Pontius Pilate conspired with the Gentiles and the people of Israel against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed. / They carried out what Your hand and will had decided beforehand would happen.

Acts 6:11-14
Then they prompted some men to say, “We heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God.” / So they stirred up the people, elders, and scribes and confronted Stephen. They seized him and brought him before the Sanhedrin, / where they presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. ...

Acts 7:57-58
At this they covered their ears, cried out in a loud voice, and rushed together at him. / They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.

Matthew 26:4
and they conspired to arrest Jesus covertly and kill Him.

Matthew 27:1
When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people conspired against Jesus to put Him to death.

Mark 3:6
At this, the Pharisees went out and began plotting with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.

Mark 14:1
Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were two days away, and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a covert way to arrest Jesus and kill Him.

Luke 22:2
and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death, for they feared the people.

Treasury of Scripture

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.

Acts 23:21,30
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…

Acts 25:3
And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.

Psalm 2:1-3
Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? …

bound.

1 Kings 19:2
Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.

2 Kings 6:31
Then he said, God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day.

Matthew 27:25
Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

under a curse.

Leviticus 27:29
None devoted, which shall be devoted of men, shall be redeemed; but shall surely be put to death.

Joshua 6:26
And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.

Joshua 7:1,15
But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel…

that.

Acts 25:2
Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,

1 Samuel 14:24,27,28,40-44
And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food…

Psalm 31:13
For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.

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Banded Bound Conspiracy Curse Daylight Death Drink Eat Food Formed Jews Killed Oath Paul Plot Solemnly Swore Themselves Together

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Acts 23

1. As Paul pleads his cause,
2. Ananias commands them to strike him.
7. Dissension among his accusers.
11. God encourages him.
14. The Jews' vow to kill Paul,
20. is declared unto the chief captain.
27. He sends him to Felix the governor.

Berean Study Bible

When daylight came
This phrase marks the beginning of a new day, symbolizing a fresh start or renewed determination. In the context of Acts, daylight often signifies the revelation of God’s plans or the unfolding of significant events. The Greek word for "daylight" (ἡμέρα, hēmera) can also imply a period of time marked by specific actions or events. Here, it sets the stage for the unfolding conspiracy against Paul, highlighting the urgency and seriousness of the plot.

the Jews
This term refers to a specific group of Jewish individuals, likely zealots or those particularly opposed to Paul’s teachings about Jesus as the Messiah. Historically, the Jewish community in Jerusalem was diverse, with varying degrees of adherence to the Law and differing views on the emerging Christian sect. The opposition to Paul was rooted in a perceived threat to traditional Jewish beliefs and practices.

formed a conspiracy
The Greek word for "conspiracy" (συστροφή, sustrophē) suggests a secretive and organized plan. This indicates a deliberate and premeditated effort to eliminate Paul, reflecting the intensity of the opposition he faced. In the historical context, conspiracies were not uncommon in political and religious disputes, often involving clandestine meetings and oaths.

bound themselves with an oath
The act of taking an oath (ἀνάθεμα, anathema) was a serious commitment in Jewish culture, often invoking divine witness to the promise made. This highlights the depth of their resolve and the seriousness with which they approached their mission. Oaths were binding and breaking them was considered a grave sin, indicating the conspirators' willingness to go to extreme lengths.

not to eat or drink
This phrase underscores the intensity and urgency of their vow. Fasting was a common practice in Jewish tradition, often associated with prayer and seeking divine intervention. However, in this context, it is used as a means of demonstrating commitment to their cause. The physical act of fasting until Paul was killed shows the depth of their animosity and determination.

until they had killed Paul
The ultimate goal of the conspiracy was the death of Paul, reflecting the extreme measures his opponents were willing to take. Paul, a former Pharisee and zealous persecutor of Christians, had become a prominent figure in spreading the Gospel, which threatened the established religious order. His teachings about Jesus as the Messiah and the inclusion of Gentiles in the faith were seen as radical and dangerous, prompting such drastic actions.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(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, Mattathias, the founder of the Maccabean dynasty, had slain the apostate Jew who offered sacrifice at the altar at Modin (1 Maccabees 2:24); so ten Zealots of Jerusalem had conspired to assassinate Herod the Great because he had built an amphi-theatre and held gladiatorial games in the Holy City (Jos. Ant. xii. 6, ? 2; xv. 8, ? 3). It is melancholy but instructive to remember how often the casuistry of Christian theologians has run in the same groove. In this respect the Jesuit teaching, absolving subjects from their allegiance to heretic rulers, and the practical issue of that teaching in the history of the Gunpowder Plot, and of the murders perpetrated by Clement and Ravaillac, present only too painful a parallel. Those who now thus acted were probably of the number of the Zealots, or Sicarii.

Under a curse.--Literally, they placed themselves under an anathema. This was the Jewish kherem, and the person or thing on which it fell was regarded as devoted to the wrath of God. (Comp. Notes on 1Corinthians 16:22; Galatians 1:8-9.) So also in the Old Testament we find that Jericho and all that it contained was a kherem, or accursed thing, devoted to destruction (Joshua 7:1).

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 12. - The Jews for certain of the Jews, A.V. and T.R. Banded together (ποιήσαντες συστροφὴν). This word συστροφή is found in the New Testament only here and Acts 19:40, where it is rendered "concourse." The sense of "a conspiracy," which it has here, is common in the LXX. (see Amos 7:10; 2 Kings 15:15, etc.). The verb συστρέφειν in the LXX. has the sense of "to conspire" (2 Samuel 15:31; 2 Kings 10:9; 2 Kings 15:30, συνέστρεψε σύστρεμμα). Bound themselves under a curse (ἀνεθεμάτισαν ἑαυτοὺς). The word ἀνάθεμα (Romans 9:3; 1 Corinthians 12:3; 1 Corinthians 16:22; Galatians 1:8, 9) corresponds to the Hebrew צּצּצּ, the devotion of anything to destruction; and hence "the thing itself so devoted." And the verb ἀναθεματίζεν corresponds to the Hebrew צּצּצּ, to devote to destruction, without the possibility of redemption. Here they made themselves an ἀνάθεμα if they did not kill Paul before partaking of any food. It seems, however, that there was a way of escape if they failed to keep the vow. Lightfoot, on this passage, quotes from the Talmud: "He that hath made a vow not to eat anything, woe to him if he eat, and woe to him if he do not eat. If he eat he sinneth against his vow; if he do not eat he sinneth against his life. What must such a man do in this case? Let him go to the wise men, and they will loose his vow" ('Hebrews and Talmud. Exercit. upon the Acts').

Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

When daylight came,
Γενομένης (Genomenēs)
Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 1096: A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.

the
οἱ (hoi)
Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Jews
Ἰουδαῖοι (Ioudaioi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2453: Jewish. From Iouda; Judaean, i.e. Belonging to Jehudah.

formed
ποιήσαντες (poiēsantes)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4160: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.

a conspiracy
συστροφὴν (systrophēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4963: From sustrepho; a twisting together, i.e. a secret coalition, riotous crowd.

and bound themselves with an oath
ἀνεθεμάτισαν (anethematisan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 332: To curse, invoke curses, devote to destruction. From anathema; to declare or vow under penalty of execration.

not
μήτε (mēte)
Conjunction
Strong's 3383: Nor, neither, not even, neither…nor. From me and te; not too, i.e. neither or nor; also, not even.

to eat
φαγεῖν (phagein)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 5315: A primary verb; to eat.

[or]
μήτε (mēte)
Conjunction
Strong's 3383: Nor, neither, not even, neither…nor. From me and te; not too, i.e. neither or nor; also, not even.

drink
πιεῖν (piein)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 4095: To drink, imbibe. A prolonged form of pio, which poo occurs only as an alternate in certain tenses; to imbibe.

until
ἕως (heōs)
Preposition
Strong's 2193: A conjunction, preposition and adverb of continuance, until.

they had killed
ἀποκτείνωσιν (apokteinōsin)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 615: To put to death, kill; fig: I abolish. From apo and kteino; to kill outright; figuratively, to destroy.

Paul.
Παῦλον (Paulon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3972: Paul, Paulus. Of Latin origin; Paulus, the name of a Roman and of an apostle.

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NT Apostles: Acts 23:12 When it was day some (Acts of the Apostles Ac)