Bound Until the Killing of Paul - Acts 23:14

Luke the beloved physician wrote how “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. And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy”, and in chapter twenty-three and verse fourteen of the book of Acts Luke shared how the men said, “We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul” where we read:

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.

The verse begins, “And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, ...” Luke began with the words, “and they came” which means “and the over forty men who were under the curse to kill Paul arose and appeared” “to the chief priests” or “to the high and principal priests” “and elders” which means “and overseers and members of the great council or Sanhedrin”, “and said” or “and uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “we have bound ourselves” which means “we, over forty men, have put, placed, set and devoted our own selves under penalty of execration and with an oath” “under a great curse” or “beneath a massive and abundant order, devotion and anathema”. Luke shared how the over forty men arose and appeared to the “high priests” and the “Sanhedrin” and told them they had put themselves under a “curse” according to the following.

The verse continues, “... that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.” Luke added the words, “that we will eat nothing” which means “that we, over forty men under the curse, will in no way consume anything” “until we have slain” or “till the time we, the forty men, have killed, abolished and extinguish from the living” “Paul” whose name means “small or little”. Luke shared how the over forty men told the “high priests” and the “Sanhedrin” about their “curse” which included not eating or drinking until they had killed “Paul”.

When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how determined these men were who put themselves under a “curse”. Not only did they make this pact among themselves, but they wanted the religious authorities to know about their conspiracy as well. Those who are in opposition to the gospel often form “alliances” to come as a group against the will of God. The “good news” of salvation from God through His Son Jesus is for everyone in the world, however, there will be opposition to receiving His message. These “over forty men” were playing into the hands of the enemy of God, and we shall see how this works out for them and the Kingdom of God. Those who are wise believe and trust in Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”, and when they yield themselves to Him, He will forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life regardless of how many attempt to stop Him from doing so.

Next time Luke shares how the men said, “we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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