Acts 23:14
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.
Original Language Analysis
οἵτινες
And they
G3748
οἵτινες
And they
Strong's:
G3748
Word #:
1 of 18
which some, i.e., any that; also (definite) which same
προσελθόντες
came to
G4334
προσελθόντες
came to
Strong's:
G4334
Word #:
2 of 18
to approach, i.e., (literally) come near, visit, or (figuratively) worship, assent to
τοῖς
G3588
τοῖς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
3 of 18
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἀρχιερεῦσιν
the chief priests
G749
ἀρχιερεῦσιν
the chief priests
Strong's:
G749
Word #:
4 of 18
the high-priest (literally, of the jews; typically, christ); by extension a chief priest
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
5 of 18
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τοῖς
G3588
τοῖς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
6 of 18
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πρεσβυτέροις
elders
G4245
πρεσβυτέροις
elders
Strong's:
G4245
Word #:
7 of 18
older; as noun, a senior; specially, an israelite sanhedrist (also figuratively, member of the celestial council) or christian "presbyter"
Ἀναθέματι
under a great curse
G331
Ἀναθέματι
under a great curse
Strong's:
G331
Word #:
9 of 18
a (religious) ban or (concretely) excommunicated (thing or person)
ἀνεθεματίσαμεν
We have bound
G332
ἀνεθεματίσαμεν
We have bound
Strong's:
G332
Word #:
10 of 18
to declare or vow under penalty of execration
ἑαυτοὺς
ourselves
G1438
ἑαυτοὺς
ourselves
Strong's:
G1438
Word #:
11 of 18
(him- her-, it-, them-, my-, thy-, our-, your-)self (selves), etc
γεύσασθαι
that we will eat
G1089
γεύσασθαι
that we will eat
Strong's:
G1089
Word #:
13 of 18
to taste; by implication, to eat; figuratively, to experience (good or ill)
ἕως
until
G2193
ἕως
until
Strong's:
G2193
Word #:
14 of 18
a conjunction, preposition and adverb of continuance, until (of time and place)
οὗ
G3739
οὗ
Strong's:
G3739
Word #:
15 of 18
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
ἀποκτείνωμεν
we have slain
G615
ἀποκτείνωμεν
we have slain
Strong's:
G615
Word #:
16 of 18
to kill outright; figuratively, to destroy
Cross References
Acts 23:12And 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.Jeremiah 8:12Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.
Historical Context
The same Sanhedrin leadership that condemned Jesus now conspired to murder His apostle. This continuity of opposition demonstrates the hardening that comes from persistently rejecting revealed truth.
Questions for Reflection
- How can religious institutions maintain outward respectability while engaging in profound moral corruption?
- What does this teach about the danger of trusting religious authority that has rejected Christ?
Analysis & Commentary
The conspirators sought the chief priests' and elders' cooperation, revealing corruption at the highest levels of Jewish leadership. These religious authorities were willing to enable murder through deception, showing how institutional religion can become utterly corrupt when it rejects divine truth. Their participation in assassination plans while maintaining religious appearance epitomizes hypocrisy.