Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 23:13
And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.
13. more than forty ] Shewing the excited state of popular feeling at this moment among the Jews. They may have been prompted to this method of getting rid of the Apostle, because they had not the power of life and death any longer, and were not likely to procure Paul’s death at the hands of the Roman authorities, on any accusation connected with a religious question.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Which had made this conspiracy – This oath sunomosian, this agreement, or compact. This large number of desperate men, bound by so solemn an oath, would be likely to be successful, and the life of Paul was therefore in special danger. The manner in which they purposed to accomplish their design is stated in Act 23:15.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
They made themselves sure (they thought) of killing Paul; there were above forty to one. The churchs enemies are unanimous and resolute. As David formerly, so might now Paul say, They that are mad against me are sworn against me, Psa 102:8.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy. Who met together, formed this resolution, entered into this scheme, and bound themselves with this oath; the word rendered “conspiracy”, signifies an agreement by oath; such a number of them banded together, that they might have strength sufficient to take Paul out of the hands of the soldiers, as he was conducted by them from the castle to the temple.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
More than forty ( ). Without “than” () as in verse Acts 23:21; Acts 24:11 and often in the ancient Greek.
Conspiracy (). Old word from , to swear together. Only here in the N.T.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Conspiracy [] . Lit., swearing together; conjuration. According to its etymology, conspiracy is a breathing or blowing together (Latin, conspirare). Hence, of concerted thought and action.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And they were more than forty,” (esan de pleious tessarakonta) “And there were more than forty of them,” of the craft or guild of Jews who had entered into the collusion or company of treachery against Paul.
2) “Which had made this conspiracy,” (hoi tauten ten sunomosian poiesamenoi) “Who had formed, made, or entered by collusion into this murderous, conspiratorial plot of forty against one,” like Judas Iscariot who betrayed his Lord, Mat 26:15; Mat 27:3; Zec 11:12.
Conspiracies were notable in Old Testament times, as follows:
1) Absalom’s against David, 2Sa 15:10-12
2) Amaziah slain by -a conspiracy, 2Ki 14:17-20.
3) Shallum’s conspiracy to slay Zachariah, 2Ki 15:8-15.
4) A conspiracy of Jerusalem prophets, Eze 22:23-25. (Selfish, covetous, greedy, absconding thieves, who devoured widows’ houses, preyed upon the weak), Mat 23:13-14.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
‘And they were more than forty that made this conspiracy.’
The size of the conspiracy comes out in that ‘forty’ men were involved. Such a number would be needed in order to keep the attention of the Roman guards who might be expected to escort the prisoner, while the assassination was taking place. And the assassination had to take place in the short time before Paul reached the Sanhedrin. Forty is regularly a number connected with judgment and trial (forty days of rain at the Flood, forty days of Goliath calling on Israel to fight him in the confidence that they would not, forty days of Elijah in the wilderness), and with the giving of the Law (forty days in the mount twice over, without food and drink). Perhaps they (or Luke) saw it as symbolic of their aim, to avenge the breaking of the Law.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
13 And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.
Ver. 13. And they were more than forty ] The assassins are a kind of most desperate men among the Mahometans, who, strongly deluded with the blind zeal of their superstition, and accounting it meritorious by any means to kill any great enemy of their religion, for the performance thereof, as men prodigal of their lives, they desperately adventure themselves into all kinds of dangers. Such also are the Spahyels among the Turks, a kind of voluntary horsemen in mere devotion to gain paradise by dying for the Mahometan’s cause. (Blount’s Voyage.)
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
conspiracy. Greek. sunomosia. Only here.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
which: 2Sa 15:12, 2Sa 15:31, Joh 16:2
Reciprocal: 2Ki 6:31 – if the head Neh 4:8 – all Psa 83:5 – For Mar 6:24 – The head Gal 5:11 – why
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
See notes on verse 12