Acts 23:14-22 - We are ready to kill him

23:14,15

This plot to kill Paul was done in collusion with the chief priests and the elders and the Sanhedrin. Their plot was to have Paul brought to the Sanhedrin and this would give them an opportunity to kill Paul on the way. So we see the absolute antagonism of the Jewish religion to the gospel. Jesus said that anyone who tries to save his own life will lose it, but that he who loses his life for Christ’s sake will save it, (Lk 9:24). We often read this in the context of risking one's life for Christ’s sake, and this is obvious application there. But there is also application in terms of our salvation. The Jews were seeking to protect their position, their status. In doing so they would indeed lose their own life, and this would happen physically in AD 70. If instead they had admitted their guilt and their inability to save themselves they would have found eternal life.

23:16-22

However, the Jews were not the only ones at work, God was also at work. The son of Paul’s sister heard of the plot and went to warn Paul. Paul then told one of the centurions to take his nephew to the commander. This duly happened and the young man informed the commander of the plot. The commander told the young man to keep quiet about things, and he acted on this information.