Acts 23:20Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Jews were greatly angered that the Roman official was not wholly on their side. They were also angered that the trial of Paul had not fulfilled their desire to deliver the apostle to death.

Then certain fanatics from among them, forty men in number, took a vow neither to eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.

To carry out their murderous design, they told the high priest and the other members of the Sanhedrin to ask the commander to bring Paul before them again for trial. During his journey to the Sanhedrin, they intended to kill him.

But their design was discovered, and Paul’s nephew brought it to the commander’s attention.

“Having called one of the centurions.” In order not to spread the matter abroad, and to keep it as secret as possible, the apostle does not tell the centurion about it. Instead, he asks that his nephew be taken directly to the tribune.

Thus only three knew of the plot against his life: Paul himself, his nephew, and the tribune (v. 22).

“It is worthy of wonder,” says Chrysostom, “how Paul was not troubled when he heard of the plot against him. He did not say, ‘What does this mean? Is what Christ told me true?’ (v. 11). No, he neither thought nor felt anything of the kind, but only believed. Yet while believing, he did not sleep. He did not fail to do what could be done with the help of human wisdom.”

“He took him by the hand,” that is, in a friendly manner, and withdrew aside, so that no one would hear and the secret would be preserved.

The disclosure of the murderous design took place so simply and unexpectedly that one may truly say with Saint John Chrysostom: “The providence of God arranged that the enemies did not know how they had been overheard.

“And Paul understood that this was God’s work, and he entrusted everything to Him. Through this very thing he also received deliverance.

“See how God arranged all things for good. The young man announced the plot. He was believed, and in this way Paul was saved.

“See how malice harms itself. They handed Paul over in order to condemn and kill him, but the opposite occurs. He is saved and shown to be innocent.