Acts 23 14

Acts 23:14 kjv

And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.

Acts 23:14 nkjv

They came to the chief priests and elders, and said, "We have bound ourselves under a great oath that we will eat nothing until we have killed Paul.

Acts 23:14 niv

They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, "We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.

Acts 23:14 esv

They went to the chief priests and elders and said, "We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul.

Acts 23:14 nlt

They went to the leading priests and elders and told them, "We have bound ourselves with an oath to eat nothing until we have killed Paul.

Acts 23 verses

Acts 23 14 Meaning

Acts 23:14 describes a chilling conspiracy in Jerusalem: a group of over forty zealous Jews, deeply opposed to Paul, approached the Jewish chief priests and elders. They declared they had taken an extremely serious self-cursing oath, a "solemn oath," binding themselves under an anathema (a curse) not to consume any food or drink until they had succeeded in assassinating Paul. This highlights their intense hatred and willingness to commit murder under a twisted religious pretext, seeking complicity from the established religious authorities.

Acts 23 14 Context

Acts 23:14 occurs during a tumultuous period in Paul's life, shortly after his third missionary journey and his arrival in Jerusalem. He has faced a hostile mob, been arrested by Roman tribune Claudius Lysias, and stood trial before the Sanhedrin. In the previous verses of Acts 23, Paul shrewdly caused a division between the Pharisees and Sadducees within the Sanhedrin by declaring himself a Pharisee who believed in the resurrection. This caused such a commotion that the tribune had to remove Paul to prevent him from being torn apart. After this, the Lord Himself appeared to Paul, assuring him he would testify in Rome (Acts 23:11). Against this backdrop of divine promise and human hostility, verse 14 describes the depth of the conspiracy forming against Paul, initiated by over forty men who sought to violently nullify God's purpose for him.

Acts 23 14 Word analysis

• They came (προσῆλθον, _prosēlthon_): This verb signifies a deliberate and intentional approach, indicating these men sought out the religious leadership directly, suggesting they wanted approval, resources, or a framework for their plan.
• to the chief priests and elders (τοὺς ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους, _tous archiereis kai tous presbyterous_): This refers to leading members of the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish judicial and religious council. Their involvement signals an attempt to legitimize or even secure the execution of their murderous plot through established authority. It also suggests that this group of zealots had significant influence or found willing ears among the powerful.
• and said: A direct, unambiguous communication of their plan and commitment.
• 'We have bound ourselves by a solemn oath (ἀνεθεματίσαμεν ἑαυτοὺς ἀναθέματι, _anethematisamen heautous anathemati_): This is a very strong and binding phrase. The root word "anathema" means to devote or consecrate to destruction, often accompanied by a curse. They were invoking a self-malediction; if they failed to achieve their goal, they believed a curse from God would fall upon them. This underscores the fanatical intensity of their commitment, portraying their conspiracy not merely as a crime but as a religiously sanctioned obligation, though deeply misguided.
• not to taste food (μηδενὸς γεύσασθαι, _mēdenos geusasthai_): This is a vow of fasting, traditionally a spiritual discipline for repentance, supplication, or devotion. Here, it is perverted, twisting a sacred practice into a means of ensuring commitment to murder. It's a "hunger strike" designed to demonstrate their absolute resolve until Paul is killed, intending to compel God's intervention (or at least avoid His curse for breaking the oath).
• until we have killed Paul (ἕως οὗ ἀποκτείνωμεν τὸν Παῦλον, _heōs hou apokteinōmen ton Paulon_): The ultimate, explicitly stated, and murderous objective. This is not about bringing Paul to justice but eliminating him, reflecting profound hatred rooted in their perception of his gospel as heresy or betrayal of Jewish law and tradition.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "They came to the chief priests and elders and said": This group action demonstrates that the plot was not merely the isolated intent of individuals, but a concerted, organized effort that sought the validation and assistance of institutional religious authority, hinting at the corruption or moral blindness of some leaders.
• "'We have bound ourselves by a solemn oath not to taste food": This phrase encapsulates the extremist nature of their commitment. The "solemn oath" (anathema) elevates their conspiracy to a perverse religious covenant, demonstrating extreme zeal and fanatical devotion. Fasting, a spiritual act, is co-opted for violent ends.
• "until we have killed Paul'": This is the brutal clarity of their intention. It is not about theological debate or legal justice but the complete, violent elimination of an opponent. It highlights the direct threat to Paul's life and the intense spiritual battle he faced.

Acts 23 14 Bonus section

The "solemn oath" of the over forty conspirators carried significant weight in Jewish society, making its violation potentially terrifying due to the invoked curse. While some rabbis in later traditions developed mechanisms for annulling rash or impossible vows, it's unlikely these fanatics would have considered such options given their fervent commitment. This episode, coming directly after Paul received a divine promise that he would testify in Rome (Acts 23:11), profoundly demonstrates God's sovereignty over human plans, even those made with the most intense and sinister religious devotion. The conspiracy was detailed, involving over forty individuals (Acts 23:13) and the solicitation of high-ranking religious officials (Acts 23:14), making it a significant, organized threat that was nevertheless completely thwarted by the unexpected intervention of Paul's nephew (Acts 23:16) and the Roman authorities, all guided by God's protective hand.

Acts 23 14 Commentary

Acts 23:14 dramatically unveils the intensity of the opposition Paul faced, orchestrated by a fanatical Jewish group that enlisted religious authorities in their plot. Their self-imposed "solemn oath" (anathema) not to eat until Paul was dead reveals a perversion of religious piety into an instrument of murder, showcasing zeal devoid of truth and love. This desperate scheme underscores the escalating conflict between traditional Judaism, deeply threatened by the Christian message, and God's unswerving plan to protect His apostle. The extreme nature of the vow serves to illustrate the depravity into which human hearts can descend when consumed by hatred, yet also sets the stage for God's divine providence to foil such elaborate evil.