Acts 23:12
And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
Original Language Analysis
Γενομένης
when it was
G1096
Γενομένης
when it was
Strong's:
G1096
Word #:
1 of 20
to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e., (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)
ἡμέρας
day
G2250
ἡμέρας
day
Strong's:
G2250
Word #:
3 of 20
day, i.e., (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the jews as inclusive of
ποιήσαντες
banded together
G4160
ποιήσαντες
banded together
Strong's:
G4160
Word #:
4 of 20
to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct)
τῶν
G3588
τῶν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
6 of 20
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
συστροφὴν
G4963
συστροφὴν
Strong's:
G4963
Word #:
8 of 20
a twisting together, i.e., (figuratively) a secret coalition, riotous crowd
ἑαυτοὺς
themselves
G1438
ἑαυτοὺς
themselves
Strong's:
G1438
Word #:
10 of 20
(him- her-, it-, them-, my-, thy-, our-, your-)self (selves), etc
λέγοντες
saying
G3004
λέγοντες
saying
Strong's:
G3004
Word #:
11 of 20
properly, to "lay" forth, i.e., (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas g2036 and g5346 generally refer to an
μήτε
neither
G3383
μήτε
neither
Strong's:
G3383
Word #:
12 of 20
not too, i.e., (in continued negation) neither or nor; also, not even
μήτε
neither
G3383
μήτε
neither
Strong's:
G3383
Word #:
14 of 20
not too, i.e., (in continued negation) neither or nor; also, not even
ἕως
till
G2193
ἕως
till
Strong's:
G2193
Word #:
16 of 20
a conjunction, preposition and adverb of continuance, until (of time and place)
οὗ
G3739
οὗ
Strong's:
G3739
Word #:
17 of 20
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
ἀποκτείνωσιν
they had killed
G615
ἀποκτείνωσιν
they had killed
Strong's:
G615
Word #:
18 of 20
to kill outright; figuratively, to destroy
Cross References
Acts 23:30And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell.Acts 23:21But 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.Acts 23:14And 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.Psalms 31:13For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.Acts 25:3And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.Jeremiah 11:19But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered.2 Kings 6:31Then he said, God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day.1 Corinthians 16:22If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.Matthew 26:4And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.1 Kings 19:2Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.
Historical Context
Such binding oaths were serious in Jewish culture, invoking divine curse if violated. However, rabbinic law provided loopholes for oaths made for illegal purposes, so the conspirators likely had ways to escape their vow.
Questions for Reflection
- How can religious conviction become twisted into justifying violence and wickedness?
- What safeguards keep your religious zeal from turning into destructive extremism?
Analysis & Commentary
The conspiracy formed 'when it was day' shows the plotters' immediate and determined hatred. Their binding oath to 'eat nothing until they had killed Paul' demonstrated fanatical zeal that valued murder over self-preservation. This echoes Jesus's warning about those who 'kill you, thinking they do God service' (John 16:2), showing how religious extremism corrupts moral judgment.