# The conspiracy to kill Paul

Early Church · Draft · BSB

Content revision: 9245269f1a8983a1 · No editorial review date recorded

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Date: c. AD 57–59. Paul spends two years in custody under Felix before Festus succeeds him (Acts 24:27).

More than forty men bind themselves by an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed Paul. The son of Paul’s sister hears of the ambush and warns the commander.

## Primary Scripture

[Acts 23:12–22 (BSB)](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2023%3A12%E2%80%9322&version=BSB)

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.

23:13 More than forty of them were involved in this plot.

23:14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.

23:15 Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him down to you on the pretext of examining his case more carefully. We are ready to kill him on the way.”

23:16 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.

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

23:18 So the centurion took him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner sent and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.”

23:19 The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside, and asked, “What do you need to tell me?”

23:20 He answered, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul to the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of acquiring more information about him.

23:21 Do not let them persuade you, because more than forty men are waiting to ambush him. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him; they are ready now, awaiting your consent.”

23:22 So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, “Do not tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”

## Location evidence

Event map marker: Identified site; \[longitude, latitude\] = \[35.23494, 31.77744\]. This is a teaching marker, not an exact event venue.

Jerusalem: Identified site. Coordinates \[longitude, latitude\]: \[35.23494, 31.77744\]. Classification source: rule.

[Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire](http://dare.ht.lu.se/places/15896)

[Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire](http://dare.ht.lu.se/places/15896)

## Interpretation and reuse

Narrative order is a reading arrangement, not a proven chronology. Dates retain their stated uncertainty. An identified locality does not establish the exact venue or prove an event. Region extents and routes are illustrative, not surveyed boundaries or ancient roads. Draft material has not completed editorial review.

Record source: theographic (375)

Record source: editorial

Events and places adapted from Theographic Bible Metadata (github.com/robertrouse/theographic-bible-metadata), CC BY-SA 4.0. This adapted data is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Place coordinates from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding Data, CC BY 4.0.

Berean Standard Bible (BSB), public domain. https://berean.bible/licensing.htm

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