Acts 23:15

Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him down to you on the pretext of examining his case more carefully. We are ready to kill him on the way.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Conspirators address the chief priests and elders immediately after swearing a solemn oath to kill Paul before eating. They propose a tactical request to the Roman commander while the plot remains unexposed.

The words — ἐμφανίσατε (emphanisate) translates literally to “do make a report” or petition, directing the request toward military leadership. χιλιάρχῳ (chiliarchō) identifies the specific commander whose authority the plotters intend to manipulate.

The thread — The plot echoes the pattern of the wicked lying in wait to slay the righteous (Psalms 37:32) and running swiftly to shed innocent blood (Isaiah 59:7). It mirrors the warning against those who ambush the innocent without cause (Proverbs 1:11).

Why it lands — The text demands recognition of how religious authority weaponizes legal procedure to mask murderous intent. It requires the reader to observe the mechanism of deception without excusing the plotters or minimizing the threat.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Psalms 37:32 Though the wicked lie in wait for the righteous, and seek to slay them,
Isaiah 59:7 Their feet run to evil; they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are sinful thoughts; ruin and destruction lie in their wake.
Proverbs 1:11 If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause,
Proverbs 1:16 For their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed blood.
Psalms 21:11 Though they intend You harm, the schemes they devise will not prevail.
Proverbs 4:16 For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall.
Acts 22:30 The next day the commander, wanting to learn the real reason Paul was accused by the Jews, released him and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul down and had him stand before them.
Romans 3:14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
Acts 25:3 to grant them a concession against Paul by summoning him to Jerusalem, because they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way.