Acts 23:16 Meaning and Explanation
“And when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Paul's nephew hears of the ambush, enters the fortress, and warns Paul.
What Does Acts 23:16 Mean?
Out of nowhere, family enters the story: Paul's sister's son, a young man in Jerusalem, hears of the ambush. Held as a Roman citizen awaiting transfer rather than a convicted criminal, Paul could receive visitors, and the youth carries the warning straight into the fortress.
Forty men swear; one boy overhears. God's deliverances often travel through small, unnamed people in the right place at the right hour. The Lord who stood by Paul in the night (v. 11) keeps His word by daylight through a nephew's courage — providence hidden inside an ordinary family visit.
Acts 23:16 in the Original Language
enedra (ἐνέδρα), 'lying in wait' -- an ambush, a trap set in secret.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 23:16
What does Acts 23:16 mean?
Paul's nephew hears of the ambush, enters the fortress, and warns Paul.