Acts 23 · Verse 16

Acts 23:16

And when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.
Acts 23:16, King James Version

Acts 23:16 in other translations

BSBBut when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.
WEBBut Paul’s sister’s son heard they were lying in wait, and he came and entered into the barracks and told Paul.
ASVBut Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, and he came and entered into the castle and told Paul.
YLTAnd the son of Paul's sister having heard of the lying in wait, having gone and entered into the castle, told Paul,
DARBYBut Paul's sister's son, having heard of the lying in wait, came and entered into the fortress and reported it to Paul.
BBEBut Paul's sister's son had word of their design, and he came into the army building and gave news of it to Paul.
WebsterAnd when the son of Paul's sister heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.

What does Acts 23:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 23:16-22
16-22. Paul's sister's son--(See on Ac 9:30). If he was at this time residing at Jerusalem for his education, like Paul himself, he may have got at the schools those hints of the conspiracy on which he so promptly acted.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 16. Paul's sister's son. This is all we know of the family of Paul. Nor do we know for what purpose he was at Jerusalem. It is possible that Paul might have a sister residing there; though, as Paul had been sent there formerly for his education, it seems more probable that this young man was sent there for the same purpose.

Entered into the castle. Paul had the privileges of a Roman citizen; and as no well-founded charge had been laid against him, it is probable that he was not very closely confined, and that his friends might have free access to him.

(a) "he went" 2Sam 17:17

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 16 Paul's sister's son - This is all we know of Paul's family. And we know not how this young man got to Jerusalem; the family, no doubt, still resided at Tarsus.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 23:12-24

False religious principles, adopted by carnal men, urge on to such wickedness, as human nature would hardly be supposed capable of. Yet the Lord readily disappoints the best concerted schemes of iniquity. Paul knew that the Divine providence acts by reasonable and prudent means; and that, if he neglected to use the means in his power, he could not expect God's providence to work on his behalf. He who will not help…

Read the full comment on Acts 23:12-24 →

Acts 23:16 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἈκούσαςAkousasHaving heardG191
δὲdehoweverG1161
ὁhotheG3588
υἱὸςhuiossonG5207
τῆςtēsof theG3588
ἀδελφῆςadelphēssisterG79
ΠαύλουPaulouof PaulG3972
τὴνtēnof theG3588
ἐνέδραν,enedranambush,G1747
παραγενόμενοςparagenomenoshaving come nearG3854
καὶkaiandG2532
εἰσελθὼνeiselthōnhaving enteredG1525
εἰςeisintoG1519
τὴνtēntheG3588
παρεμβολὴνparembolēnbarracksG3925
ἀπήγγειλενapēngeilenhe reported [it]G518
τῷtō<the>G3588
Παύλῳ.Paulōto Paul.G3972

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 23:16

  • 1 Corinthians 3:19

    For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

  • Acts 23:10

    And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.

  • Proverbs 21:30

    There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.

  • Acts 23:32

    On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:

  • Job 5:13

    He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.

  • Lamentations 3:37

    Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?

  • Acts 21:34

    And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude: and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle.

  • 2 Samuel 17:17

    Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by En–rogel; for they might not be seen to come into the city: and a wench went and told them; and they went and told king David.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
when.
Job 5:13; Pr 21:30; La 3:37; 1Co 3:19
he went.
2Sa 17:17

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 23:15

    Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.

  • Acts 23:16

    And when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.

  • Acts 23:17

    Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him.

Read all of Acts 23

Acts 23:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces un hijo de la hermana de Pablo, oyendo las asechanzas, fué, y entró en la fortaleza, y dió aviso á Pablo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais le fils de la sœur de Paul, ayant entendu parler de ce guet-apens, s’en alla et entra dans la forteresse, et le rapporta à Paul.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Als aber der Schwestersohn des Paulus von der Nachstellung gehört hatte, kam er hin und ging in das Lager und meldete es dem Paulus.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quod cum audisset filius sororis Pauli insidias, venit, et intravit in castra, nuntiavitque Paulo.