New King James Version
Acts 23:15
15Now you, therefore, together with the council, suggest to the commander that he be brought down to you tomorrow, as though you were going to make further inquiries concerning him; but we are ready to kill him before he comes near.”
Acts 23:15 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.
- New International Version (NIV)Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Now therefore you, along with the council, give notice to the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes near."
- New Living Translation (NLT)So you and the high council should ask the commander to bring Paul back to the council again. Pretend you want to examine his case more fully. We will kill him on the way.”
Context of Acts 23:15
13Now there were more than forty who had formed this conspiracy. 14They 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. Now you, therefore, together with the council, suggest to the commander that he be brought down to you tomorrow, as though you were going to make further inquiries concerning him; but we are ready to kill him before he comes near.” 16So when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their ambush, he went and entered the barracks and told Paul. 17Then Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to tell him.”
Read all of Acts 23Acts 23:15 word by word
νῦν οὖν ὑμεῖς ἐμφανίσατε τῷ χιλιάρχῳ σὺν τῷ συνεδρίῳ, ὅπως καταγάγῃ αὐτὸν εἰς ὑμᾶς ὡς μέλλοντας διαγινώσκειν ἀκριβέστερον τὰ περὶ αὐτοῦ· ἡμεῖς δὲ πρὸ τοῦ ἐγγίσαι αὐτὸν ἕτοιμοί ἐσμεν τοῦ ἀνελεῖν αὐτόν.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Nowνῦνnun · nowG3568
- thereforeοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
- yeσύsu · youG4771
- withσύνsun · withG4862
- the councilσυνέδριονsunedrion · councilG4892
- signifyἐμφανίζωemphanizō · to showG1718
- to the chief captainχιλίαρχοςchiliarchos · military officerG5506
- thatὅπωςhopōs · thatG3704
- he bringκατάγωkatagō · to bring downG2609
- himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- untoπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- to morrowαὔριονaurion · tomorrowG839
- as thoughὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
- ye wouldμέλλωmellō · to ensueG3195
- enquireδιαγινώσκωdiaginōskō · to decideG1231
- something more perfectlyἀκριβῶςakribōs · exactlyG199
- concerningπερίperi · aboutG4012
- andδέde · thenG1161
- weἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- or everπρόpro · beforeG4253
- come nearἐγγίζωeggizō · to come nearG1448
- areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- readyἕτοιμοςhetoimos · readyG2092
- to killἀναιρέωanaireō · to killG337
Cross-references for Acts 23:15
- Acts 25:3asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem—while they lay in ambush along the road to kill him.
- Psalms 21:11For they intended evil against You; They devised a plot which they are not able to perform.
- Psalms 37:32The wicked watches the righteous, And seeks to slay him.
- Proverbs 1:11If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait to shed blood; Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;
- Proverbs 4:16For they do not sleep unless they have done evil; And their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall.
- Isaiah 59:7Their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed innocent blood; Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; Wasting and destruction are in their paths.
- Romans 3:14“Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”
Commentaries on Acts 23:15
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15And we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him - We shall lie in wait, and despatch him before he can reach the chief captain. The plan was well and deeply laid; and nothing but an especial providence could have saved Paul.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15Ye, with the council - With the concurrence or request of the Sanhedrin. It was only by such a request that they had any hope that the chief captain would remove Paul from the castle. Signify to the chief captain - Send a message or request to him. That he bring him down unto you - That he bring him from the castle to the usual place of the meeting of the Sanhedrin. As this was at some distance from the castle of Antonia, where Paul was, they supposed it…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-24Verses 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…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12-15The plan to kill Paul was desperate. More than 40 men took an oath (a strong promise) not to eat or drink until they had killed him (compare 1 Samuel 14:24–46; Matthew 14:6–11; see also Deuteronomy 23:21–23; Matthew 5:33–37; James 5:12).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. Now ... ye with the council signify to the chief captain ... as though, &c.--That these high ecclesiastics fell in readily with this infamous plot is clear. What will not unscrupulous and hypocritical religionists do under the mask of religion? The narrative bears unmistakable internal marks of truth. or ever he come near--Their plan was to assassinate him on his way down from the barracks to the council. The case was critical, but He who had pledged…Read the comment
Topics related to Acts 23:15
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Acts 23
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries