23 ¹² When day broke, the Jews banded together and took an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. 23 ¹³ There were more than forty in this conspiracy. 23 ¹⁴ They came to the chief priests and elders and said, 'We have bound ourselves by a solemn oath not to taste food until we have killed Paul. 23 ¹⁵ It is now for you, acting with the Council, to apply to the commandant to bring him down to you, on the pretext of a closer investigation of his case; and we have arranged to do away with him before he arrives.'

23 ¹⁶ But the son of Paul's sister heard of the ambush; he went to the barracks, obtained entry, and reported it to Paul. 23 ¹⁷ Paul called one of the centurions and said, 'Take this young man to the commandant; he has something to report.' 23 ¹⁸ The centurion took him and brought him to the commandant. 'The prisoner Paul', he said, 'sent for me and asked me to bring this young man to you; he has something to tell you.' 23 ¹⁹ The commandant took him by the arm, drew him aside, and asked him, 'What is it you have to report?' 23 ²⁰ He said, 'The Jews have made a plan among themselves and will request you to bring Paul down to the Council tomorrow, on the pretext of obtaining more precise information about him. 23 ²¹ Do not listen to them; for a party more than forty strong are lying in wait for him. They have sworn not to eat or drink until they have done away with him; they are now ready, and wait only for your consent.' 23 ²² So the commandant dismissed the young man, with orders not to let anyone know that he had given him this information.