Acts 23:21 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →He urges the commander not to yield: more than forty sworn men lie in wait, ready and waiting only for his consent.
What Does Acts 23:21 Mean?
The young man presses his case with startling boldness — "do not thou yield unto them" — a youth instructing a Roman commander. Everything waits on one consent: the forty are sworn, the ambush set, the assassins "looking for a promise from thee."
The plotters' oath has become their snare: they have bound themselves to an outcome only God could grant, and He will not. Their hunger will outlast their vow. Every scheme against the Lord's purpose carries the same flaw — it needs heaven's cooperation, and heaven has promised otherwise (v. 11).
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 23:21
What does Acts 23:21 mean?
He urges the commander not to yield: more than forty sworn men lie in wait, ready and waiting only for his consent.