13. There were more than 40 of them who made this plan.
14. They went and talked to the leading priests and the older Jewish leaders. They said, “We have promised ourselves that we will not eat or drink until we have killed Paul.
15. So this is what we want you to do: Send a message to the commander from you and the high council. Tell him you want him to bring Paul out to you. Say that you want to ask him more questions. We will be waiting to kill him while he is on the way here.”
16. But Paul’s nephew heard about this plan. He went to the army building and told Paul.
17. Then Paul called one of the army officers and said to him, “Take this young man to the commander. He has a message for him.”
18. So the army officer brought Paul’s nephew to the commander. The officer said, “The prisoner Paul asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.”
19. The commander led the young man to a place where they could be alone. The commander asked, “What do you want to tell me?”
20. The young man said, “Some Jews have decided to ask you to bring Paul down to their council meeting tomorrow. They want you to think that they plan to ask Paul more questions.
21. But don’t believe them! More than 40 of them are hiding and waiting to kill him. They have all promised not to eat or drink until they have killed him. Now they are waiting for you to say yes.”