Acts 23:21
New International Version
Don’t give in to them, because more than forty of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are ready now, waiting for your consent to their request.”

New Living Translation
But don’t do it! There are more than forty men hiding along the way ready to ambush him. They have vowed not to eat or drink anything until they have killed him. They are ready now, just waiting for your consent.”

English Standard Version
But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him, who have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him. And now they are ready, waiting for your consent.”

Berean Standard Bible
Do not let them persuade you, because more than forty men are waiting to ambush him. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him; they are ready now, awaiting your consent.”

Berean Literal Bible
You therefore should not be persuaded by them. For more than forty of their men lie in wait for him, who have put themselves under an oath neither to eat nor to drink until they have killed him; and now they are ready, awaiting the promise from you."

King James Bible
But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee.

New King James Version
But do not yield to them, for more than forty of them lie in wait for him, men who have bound themselves by an oath that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him; and now they are ready, waiting for the promise from you.”

New American Standard Bible
So do not listen to them, for more than forty of them are in hiding to ambush him, and these men have put themselves under an oath not to eat or drink until they kill him; and now they are ready and waiting for assurance from you.”

NASB 1995
“So do not listen to them, for more than forty of them are lying in wait for him who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they slay him; and now they are ready and waiting for the promise from you.”

NASB 1977
“So do not listen to them, for more than forty of them are lying in wait for him who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they slay him; and now they are ready and waiting for the promise from you.”

Legacy Standard Bible
So do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of them—who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they slay him—are lying in wait for him and now they are ready and waiting for the promise from you.”

Amplified Bible
But do not listen to them, for more than forty of them are lying in wait for him, and they have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. Even now they are ready, just waiting for your promise.”

Christian Standard Bible
Don’t let them persuade you, because there are more than forty of them lying in ambush—men who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, waiting for your consent.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Don’t let them persuade you, because there are more than 40 of them arranging to ambush him, men who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they kill him. Now they are ready, waiting for a commitment from you.”

American Standard Version
Do not thou therefore yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, who have bound themselves under a curse, neither to eat nor to drink till they have slain him: and now are they ready, looking for the promise from thee.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“Therefore you should not believe them, for behold, there are more than forty men of them who are watching for him in ambush and they have put a curse upon themselves that they will not eat or drink until they kill him. And behold, they are ready and waiting for your promise.”

Contemporary English Version
But please don't do what they say. More than 40 men are going to attack Paul. They have made a vow not to eat or drink anything until they have killed him. Even now they are waiting to hear what you decide."

Douay-Rheims Bible
But do not thou give credit to them; for there lie in wait for him more than forty men of them, who have bound themselves by oath neither to eat, nor to drink, till they have killed him: and they are now ready, looking for a promise from thee.

English Revised Version
Do not thou therefore yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves under a curse, neither to eat nor to drink till they have slain him: and now are they ready, looking for the promise from thee.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Don't let them persuade you to do this. More than forty of them are planning to ambush him. They have asked God to curse them if they eat or drink anything before they have murdered him. They are ready now and are expecting you to promise [that you will bring Paul]."

Good News Translation
But don't listen to them, because there are more than forty men who will be hiding and waiting for him. They have taken a vow not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are now ready to do it and are waiting for your decision."

International Standard Version
Don't believe them, because more than 40 of them are planning to ambush him. They've taken an oath not to eat or drink before they've killed him. They are ready now, just waiting for your consent."

Literal Standard Version
you, therefore, may you not yield to them, for there more than forty men of them lie in wait for him, who cursed themselves—not to eat nor to drink until they kill him, and now they are ready, waiting for the promise from you.”

Majority Standard Bible
Do not let them persuade you, because more than forty men are waiting to ambush him. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him; they are ready now, awaiting your consent.”

New American Bible
but do not believe them. More than forty of them are lying in wait for him; they have bound themselves by oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are now ready and only wait for your consent.”

NET Bible
So do not let them persuade you to do this, because more than forty of them are lying in ambush for him. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink anything until they have killed him, and now they are ready, waiting for you to agree to their request."

New Revised Standard Version
But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him. They have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink until they kill him. They are ready now and are waiting for your consent.”

New Heart English Bible
Therefore do not yield to them, for more than forty men lie in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse neither to eat nor to drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, looking for the promise from you."

Webster's Bible Translation
But do not thou yield to them: for there are of them who lie in wait for him more than forty men, who have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now they are ready, looking for a promise from thee.

Weymouth New Testament
I beg you not to comply; for more than forty men among them are lying in wait for him, who have solemnly vowed that they will neither eat nor drink till they have assassinated him; and even now they are ready, in anticipation of receiving that promise of you."

World English Bible
Therefore don’t yield to them, for more than forty men lie in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse to neither eat nor drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, looking for the promise from you.”

Young's Literal Translation
thou, therefore, mayest thou not yield to them, for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, who did anathematize themselves -- not to eat nor to drink till they kill him, and now they are ready, waiting for the promise from thee.'

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Plot to Kill Paul
20He answered, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul to the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of acquiring more information about him. 21 Do not let them persuade you, because more than forty men are waiting to ambush him. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him; they are ready now, awaiting your consent.” 22So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, “Do not tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”…

Cross References
Luke 11:54
waiting to catch Him in something He might say.

Acts 23:12
When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.

Acts 23:14
They went to the chief priests and elders and said, "We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.

Acts 23:22
So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, "Do not tell anyone that you have reported this to me."


Treasury of Scripture

But do not you yield to them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from you.

do not.

Exodus 23:2
Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment:

for.

Acts 23:12-14
And 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…

Acts 9:23,24
And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: …

Acts 14:5,6
And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them, …

an oath.

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.

Romans 9:3
For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

Jump to Previous
Ambush Anticipation Assassinated Beg Bound Comply Consent Curse Drink Eat Forty Killed Lie Oath Promise Ready Receiving Request Slain Slay Solemnly Themselves Vowed Wait Waiting Yield You
Jump to Next
Ambush Anticipation Assassinated Beg Bound Comply Consent Curse Drink Eat Forty Killed Lie Oath Promise Ready Receiving Request Slain Slay Solemnly Themselves Vowed Wait Waiting Yield You
Acts 23
1. As Paul pleads his cause,
2. Ananias commands them to strike him.
7. Dissension among his accusers.
11. God encourages him.
14. The Jews' vow to kill Paul,
20. is declared unto the chief captain.
27. He sends him to Felix the governor.














Verse 21. - Do not thou therefore for but do not thou, A.V.; under a curse for with an oath, A.V.; neither to eat nor to drink for that they will neither eat nor drink, A.V.; slain for killed, A.V.; the for a (promise), A.V. Do not... yield (μὴ πεισθῇς); be not persuaded by them; do not assent unto them (see Luke 16:6; Acts 5:40; Acts 17:4, etc.). The promise, etc.; τὴν ἀπὸ σοῦ ἐπαγγελίαν. The word occurs above fifty times in the New Testament, and is always rendered "promise" in the A.V., except in 1 John 1:5, where it is rendered both in the A.V. and the R.V. "message," which is the literal meaning of the word. In Polybius it means "a summons." Either of these meanings suits this passage better than "promise."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
{Do} not {let}
μὴ (mē)
Adverb
Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.

them
αὐτοῖς (autois)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

persuade
πεισθῇς (peisthēs)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 3982: A primary verb; to convince; by analogy, to pacify or conciliate; reflexively or passively, to assent, to rely.

you,
σὺ (sy)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

because
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

more than
πλείους (pleious)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural - Comparative
Strong's 4119: Or neuter pleion, or pleon comparative of polus; more in quantity, number, or quality; also the major portion.

forty
τεσσεράκοντα (tesserakonta)
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 5062: Forty. The decade of tessares; forty.

men
ἄνδρες (andres)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 435: A male human being; a man, husband. A primary word; a man.

are waiting to ambush
ἐνεδρεύουσιν (enedreuousin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1748: To lie in wait (ambush) for, seek to entrap (hence: I defraud, deceive). From enedra; to lurk, i.e. plot assassination.

him.
αὐτὸν (auton)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

[They]
οἵτινες (hoitines)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3748: Whosoever, whichsoever, whatsoever.

have bound themselves with an oath
ἀνεθεμάτισαν (anethematisan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 332: To curse, invoke curses, devote to destruction. From anathema; to declare or vow under penalty of execration.

not
μήτε (mēte)
Conjunction
Strong's 3383: Nor, neither, not even, neither�nor. From me and te; not too, i.e. neither or nor; also, not even.

to eat
φαγεῖν (phagein)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 5315: A primary verb; to eat.

[or]
μήτε (mēte)
Conjunction
Strong's 3383: Nor, neither, not even, neither�nor. From me and te; not too, i.e. neither or nor; also, not even.

drink
πιεῖν (piein)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 4095: To drink, imbibe. A prolonged form of pio, which poo occurs only as an alternate in certain tenses; to imbibe.

until
ἕως (heōs)
Preposition
Strong's 2193: A conjunction, preposition and adverb of continuance, until.

they have killed
ἀνέλωσιν (anelōsin)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 337: From ana and haireomai; to take up, i.e. Adopt; by implication, to take away, i.e. Abolish, murder.

him;
αὐτόν (auton)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

they are
εἰσιν (eisin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

ready
ἕτοιμοι (hetoimoi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2092: Ready, prepared. From an old noun heteos; adjusted, i.e. Ready.

now,
νῦν (nyn)
Adverb
Strong's 3568: A primary particle of present time; 'now'; also as noun or adjective present or immediate.

awaiting
προσδεχόμενοι (prosdechomenoi)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4327: From pros and dechomai; to admit (figuratively) endurance); by implication, to await.

your
σοῦ (sou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

consent.�
ἐπαγγελίαν (epangelian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1860: A promise. From epaggello; an announcement.


Links
Acts 23:21 NIV
Acts 23:21 NLT
Acts 23:21 ESV
Acts 23:21 NASB
Acts 23:21 KJV

Acts 23:21 BibleApps.com
Acts 23:21 Biblia Paralela
Acts 23:21 Chinese Bible
Acts 23:21 French Bible
Acts 23:21 Catholic Bible

NT Apostles: Acts 23:21 Therefore don't yield to them for more (Acts of the Apostles Ac)
Acts 23:20
Top of Page
Top of Page