Acts 23:21

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. 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 until they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee. THUS, AS IS OFTEN THE CASE WITH GOD'S PEOPLE, NOT UNTIL THE LAST MOMENT, WHEN THE PLOT WAS ALL PREPARED, DID DELIVERANCE COME. Upon hearing of this conspiracy, the tribune, enjoining silence on his informer, despatches Paul by night to Caesarea, under a strong escort, with a letter stating the circumstances to Felix the Procurator, that, as civil governor of the province, he might br...

12-24 False religious principles, adopted by carnal men, urge on to such wickedness, as human nature would hardly be supposed capable of. Yet the Lord readily disappoints the best concerted schemes of iniquity. Paul knew that the Divine providence acts by reasonable and prudent means; and that, if he neglected to use the means in his power, he could not expect God's providence to work on his behalf. He who will not help himself according to his means and power, has neither reason nor revelation to assure him that he shall receive help from God. Believing in the Lord, we and ours shall be kept from every evil work, and kept to his kingdom. Heavenly Father, give us by thy Holy Spirit, for Christ's sake, this precious faith....

LOOKING FOR A PROMISE FROM THEE - Waiting for your consent to bring him down to them....

EXPOSITION ACTS 23:1 _Looking steadfastly on _for _earnestly beholding, _A.V.; _brethren _for _men and brethren, _A.V._; I have lived before God, _etc., for _I have lived, _etc., _before God, _A.V. LOOKING STEADFASTLY; ἀτενίσας, as in Acts 1:10; Acts 3:4, Acts 3:12; Acts 6:15; Acts 7:55; Acts 10:4;...

BUT DO NOT THOU YIELD UNTO THEM,.... Or be persuaded by them, to bring Paul down from the castle to the sanhedrim; this must not be imputed to the young man's pride and vanity, in taking upon him to give advice to the chief captain; but to his great affection for his uncle, which moved him to entreat, rather than to direct him, for which he gives a good reason: FOR THERE LIE IN WAIT FOR HIM MORE THAN FORTY MEN, WHICH HAVE BOUND THEMSELVES WITH AN OATH, THAT THEY WILL NEITHER EAT NOR DRINK TILL THEY HAVE KILLED HIM; Acts 23:12. Acts 23:13. AND NOW ARE THEY READY; to execute their designs, being met together, and lying in ambush in some place, between the castle and the place where the sanhedrim met: LOOKING FOR A PROMISE FROM THEE; that when th

JEWISH PLOT: REMOVAL OF PAUL. The Jews propose what the tribune, in Acts 22:30 to Acts 23:10, has already done on his own initiative; here we are on historical ground. The hated person being removed from their power, they plan an assassination. Forty of them make themselves a curse (so literally), _i.e._ they are to be accursed if they do not carry out their purpose; and they are to fast till it is done. For this end they apply to the high priests and elders to get the tribune to bring Paul down to a meeting for a further inquiry. No doubt is entertained apparently that the leaders will countenance such a plot. The tribune, who is well disposed to Paul since he discovered his citizenship, at once removes him from danger; but 470 men seem a large force for the purpose. Lysias-' motive in all this apparatus was

THE STRATEGY OF PAUL (Acts 23:1-10)...

YIELD UNTO. be persuaded by. Greek. _peitho._ App-150. LIE IN WAIT. Greek. _enedreuo._ Only here and Luke 11:54. Compare Acts 23:16. MEN. App-123. LOOKING FOR. Greek. _prosdechomai_. Compare Acts 24:15.Mark 15:43 (waited for). A. the. This shows that some promise of. further trial of Paul had been given....

_But do not thou yield unto them_ More literally, "Do not thou therefore yield, &c." (with _Rev. Ver._). _which have bound themselves with an oath_ The Greek is the same as in Acts 23:12. It is better therefore to render as there "bound themselves under a curse." Beside which, the invocation implied in the original is much stronger than is indicated by our English "oath." And to vary the English rendering gives an idea of variation in the Greek, which in one continuous narrative should be avoided. _looking for a promise Rev._ _VER_. " THE promise" i.e. the one which they are coming to ask you to make....

PAUL IS CHEERED BY A VISION. THE JEWS CONSPIRE TO KILL HIM...