Acts 23 20

Acts 23:20 kjv

And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly.

Acts 23:20 nkjv

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.

Acts 23:20 niv

He said: "Some Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him.

Acts 23:20 esv

And he said, "The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more closely about him.

Acts 23:20 nlt

Paul's nephew told him, "Some Jews are going to ask you to bring Paul before the high council tomorrow, pretending they want to get some more information.

Acts 23 verses

Acts 23 20 Meaning

Acts 23:20 conveys the deceptive scheme concocted by certain Jews in Jerusalem against the Apostle Paul. Paul's nephew, overhearing the plot, reports it to the Roman commander Claudius Lysias. The conspirators intended to request that Paul be brought back to the Sanhedrin council under the false pretense of wanting to inquire more accurately about his case. However, their true objective was to ambush and assassinate Paul during his transfer from the Roman barracks to the council chamber.

Acts 23 20 Context

Acts 23:20 is spoken by the young nephew of Paul to Claudius Lysias, the Roman commander in Jerusalem. Following Paul's turbulent appearance before the Sanhedrin, which devolved into intense sectarian strife between the Pharisees and Sadducees (Acts 23:1-10), Paul was returned to the Roman barracks for his safety. That same night, the Lord appeared to Paul, assuring him that he would testify in Rome (Acts 23:11). Unbeknownst to them, more than forty fanatical Jews had sworn a solemn oath not to eat or drink until they had murdered Paul, devising an ambush for his transfer (Acts 23:12-15). Paul's nephew, overhearing this deadly plot, immediately informed Paul (Acts 23:16). Paul, in turn, dispatched his nephew to report the conspiracy to Lysias via a centurion (Acts 23:17-19). Verse 20 provides the nephew's direct account of the conspirators' false pretense to the commander, setting the stage for Lysias's strategic decision to protect Paul and send him to Caesarea.

Acts 23 20 Word analysis

• And he said (Greek: ho de ephē): Identifies Paul's nephew as the speaker, highlighting his crucial role as the conveyor of vital information to the Roman commander, preventing a fatal ambush.
• The Jews (Greek: hoi Ioudaioi): Refers to the specific group of over forty Jewish zealots who had conspired with an oath to kill Paul, not the entire Jewish population. This pinpoints the source of the danger.
• have agreed (Greek: synethento): From syntithēmi, meaning to put together, to arrange, or conspire. It indicates a formal, premeditated, and unanimous decision or pact, underscoring the malicious intent and organized nature of their plot, distinct from spontaneous violence.
• to ask thee (Greek: tou erōtēsai se): erōtaō means to ask or request. The conspirators' "request" to the commander is presented with a veneer of politeness and legitimacy, designed to deceive the Roman authority into unwittingly facilitating their murderous design.
• to bring forth Paul (Greek: ton Paulon katagagēs): katagō means to lead down or bring down. It specifically implies transporting Paul from the higher elevation of the Antonia Fortress barracks to the lower level where the Sanhedrin traditionally met near the Temple grounds. This movement outside the secure fortress walls was where the ambush was planned.
• to morrow (Greek: aurion): Specifies the immediate timeline for the ambush, revealing the conspirators' urgency and detailed planning.
• into the council (Greek: eis to synedrion): Refers to the Jewish Sanhedrin, the supreme judicial and legislative body, used as the proposed legitimate setting for their deceptive "inquiry."
• as though (Greek: hōs): This is a critical Greek particle indicating a false appearance, a pretense, or feigned reason. It directly highlights the deceitful nature of the Jews' request; their stated motive is a cover-up for their true murderous intention.
• they would inquire (Greek: pynthanethai): To learn by inquiry, to ascertain by questioning. This verb refers to their claimed intention of gaining information, contrasting sharply with their real intent to kill Paul.
• somewhat (Greek: ti): An indefinite pronoun meaning "something" or "anything." It denotes the vague nature of the alleged further inquiry, typical of a false pretext without substance.
• of him (Greek: peri autou): Refers specifically to Paul. Their obsessive hatred and murderous intent are singularly directed at Paul, demonstrating their focus.
• more perfectly (Greek: akribesteron): This is the comparative form of akribēs, meaning precise, accurate, exact. Here, it signifies "more accurately," "more precisely," or "more thoroughly." This is the core of their deceptive claim: they want to conduct a more rigorous, in-depth legal examination of Paul. In reality, it is a lie to facilitate an assassination.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "The Jews have agreed to ask thee": This phrase highlights the organized, consensual, and deceptive nature of the conspiracy. It was not a spontaneous action but a premeditated plan by a defined group within the Jewish community against Paul, executed through a cunning request to Roman authority.
• "to bring forth Paul to morrow into the council": This section details the practical logistics of the plot. It specifies the timing ("to morrow") and the vulnerable location ("into the council" from the fortress) where Paul would be exposed to the waiting ambush, illustrating the meticulous planning of his enemies.
• "as though they would inquire somewhat of him more perfectly": This entire clause is crucial as it reveals the essence of the conspirators' duplicity. The phrase "as though" (Greek hōs) unequivocally marks their motive as a fabrication. They pretend to seek greater accuracy and detailed understanding (akribesteron) of Paul's case, when in truth, they are driven by murderous hatred and seek only to eliminate him, making their inquiry a deadly pretense.

Acts 23 20 Bonus section

The mention of the Sanhedrin is significant. This was the same body that condemned Jesus, often seeking his death. Their previous encounter with Paul (Acts 22:30-23:10) had dissolved into chaos due to Paul's clever strategy of invoking the resurrection, dividing the Sanhedrin into Sadducee and Pharisee factions. This new request for Paul's presence before the council, framed as a desire for "more perfect" inquiry, subtly mocks Paul's own Pharisaic background which historically sought precision in the Law (akribeia). The term akribesteron can imply strict adherence or accurate understanding, which was Paul's reputation prior to conversion (Acts 26:5). Here, his enemies pervert this concept of strict inquiry for an evil agenda. Lysias's wisdom in dispatching Paul away immediately, rather than risking another public appearance or ambush, is a testament to divine leading in secular affairs, ensuring Paul's continued path towards Rome as promised by the Lord. This verse demonstrates how the smallest detail (a nephew overhearing) can be part of God's magnificent plan.

Acts 23 20 Commentary

Acts 23:20 is a pivotal moment, confirming the grave danger Paul faced from a religiously motivated death squad. The verse succinctly captures the deceitful tactics of his Jewish adversaries, who, under the guise of legal scrutiny ("inquire more perfectly"), sought to commit murder. This feigned desire for "perfect" understanding stands in stark contrast to their actual intent, revealing a profound moral corruption. The narrative highlights God's protective providence through seemingly mundane channels – an alert nephew and a dutiful Roman commander. Lysias, though primarily concerned with Roman order and law, unwittingly serves God's greater purpose for Paul's ministry to reach Rome. This incident exemplifies the ongoing conflict between those dedicated to truth and the gospel, and those consumed by religious hatred and lies, often employing disingenuous means to achieve their wicked ends. It reinforces the biblical truth that while humans conspire and plan for evil, the Lord ultimately orchestrates events to accomplish His divine will and protect His servants until their appointed tasks are done.