Acts 23:15
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.
Original Language Analysis
νῦν
Now
G3568
νῦν
Now
Strong's:
G3568
Word #:
1 of 33
"now" (as adverb of date, a transition or emphasis); also as noun or adjective present or immediate
οὖν
therefore
G3767
οὖν
therefore
Strong's:
G3767
Word #:
2 of 33
(adverbially) certainly, or (conjunctionally) accordingly
τῷ
G3588
τῷ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
5 of 33
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
χιλιάρχῳ
to the chief captain
G5506
χιλιάρχῳ
to the chief captain
Strong's:
G5506
Word #:
6 of 33
the commander of a thousand soldiers ("chiliarch"; i.e., colonel
σὺν
with
G4862
σὺν
with
Strong's:
G4862
Word #:
7 of 33
with or together (but much closer than g3326 or g3844), i.e., by association, companionship, process, resemblance, possession, instrumentality, additi
τῷ
G3588
τῷ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
8 of 33
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
συνεδρίῳ
the council
G4892
συνεδρίῳ
the council
Strong's:
G4892
Word #:
9 of 33
a joint session, i.e., (specially), the jewish sanhedrin; by analogy, a subordinate tribunal
ὅπως
that
G3704
ὅπως
that
Strong's:
G3704
Word #:
10 of 33
what(-ever) how, i.e., in the manner that (as adverb or conjunction of coincidence, intentional or actual)
αὔριον
to morrow
G839
αὔριον
to morrow
Strong's:
G839
Word #:
11 of 33
properly, fresh, i.e., (adverb with ellipsis of g2250) to-morrow
αὐτόν
he
G846
αὐτόν
he
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
12 of 33
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
πρὸς
unto
G4314
πρὸς
unto
Strong's:
G4314
Word #:
14 of 33
a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e., toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e., pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of,
ὡς
as
G5613
ὡς
as
Strong's:
G5613
Word #:
16 of 33
which how, i.e., in that manner (very variously used, as follows)
μέλλοντας
though ye would
G3195
μέλλοντας
though ye would
Strong's:
G3195
Word #:
17 of 33
to intend, i.e., be about to be, do, or suffer something (of persons or things, especially events; in the sense of purpose, duty, necessity, probabili
τὰ
G3588
τὰ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
20 of 33
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
περὶ
concerning
G4012
περὶ
concerning
Strong's:
G4012
Word #:
21 of 33
properly, through (all over), i.e., around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time (with the genitive cas
αὐτόν
he
G846
αὐτόν
he
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
22 of 33
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
πρὸ
or ever
G4253
πρὸ
or ever
Strong's:
G4253
Word #:
25 of 33
"fore", i.e., in front of, prior (figuratively, superior) to
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
26 of 33
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
αὐτόν
he
G846
αὐτόν
he
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
28 of 33
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
31 of 33
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Cross References
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.Psalms 21:11For they intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform.Proverbs 4:16For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.Proverbs 1:16For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.
Historical Context
Assassinations by zealots were common in this volatile period. The forty-plus conspirators likely included sicarii willing to die for their cause. That Sanhedrin members cooperated shows the depth of opposition to Paul's gospel. Roman protective custody proved providential—God used pagan justice to thwart religious assassination.
Questions for Reflection
- How does religious language sometimes mask unrighteous motives and violent intentions?
- What does this conspiracy teach about the danger of zealotry divorced from love and truth?
Analysis & Commentary
Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain—Over forty men conspired with Sanhedrin members to murder Paul under pretense of further inquiry (v. 12-14). The verb emphanisate (make clear/inform) shows their plan required official cooperation. As though ye would enquire something more perfectly (ἀκριβέστερον, akribesteron, more accurately)—The adverb 'more perfectly' gave the plot appearance of legitimate judicial procedure, masking murderous intent with religious language.
We, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him—The conspirators' confidence reveals their fanaticism: bound by oath, fasting until Paul's death (v. 12). This plot demonstrates how religious zeal untethered from righteousness produces violence. The irony is stark—those claiming to defend God's law planned premeditated murder in God's name, violating the sixth commandment while invoking the first.