Bible Strands
Acts 23:16
But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The unnamed son of Paul’s sister acts immediately after the Sanhedrin's conspiracy, entering the Roman barracks to privately inform Paul of the ambush plan.
The words — Ἀκούσας (Akousas) literally means "having heard," marking the nephew's direct awareness of the plot before he moves. The particle δὲ (de) translates as "however," signaling a narrative pivot from the conspirators' scheme to Paul's sudden protection.
The thread — The disruption of a coordinated execution aligns with the divine reversal described in 1 Corinthians 3:19 and Job 5:13, where human craftiness is overturned. The sequence also directly follows the commander's earlier intervention in Acts 23:10, which established the Roman guard detail.
Why it lands — The text requires a reader to note how a concealed familial link interrupts a legally framed murder plot. It demands attention to the mechanics of information transfer as the catalyst for the narrative's shift toward Roman custody.
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
And when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.
Cross-references
- Acts 23:10 The dispute grew so violent that the commander was afraid they would tear Paul to pieces. He ordered the soldiers to go down and remove him by force and bring him into the barracks.
- 1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”
- Job 5:13 He catches the wise in their craftiness, and sweeps away the plans of the cunning.
- Proverbs 21:30 There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.
- Lamentations 3:37 Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has ordained it?
- Acts 23:32 The next day they returned to the barracks and let the horsemen go on with him.
- 2 Samuel 17:17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En-rogel, where a servant girl would come and pass along information to them. They in turn would go and inform King David, for they dared not be seen entering the city.
- Acts 21:34 Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, and some another. And since the commander could not get at the truth because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be brought into the barracks.