Acts 23:12

And when it was day, certaine of the Iewes banded together, and bound themselues vnder a curse, saying, that they would neither eate nor drinke till they had killed Paul. Acts 23:12 (KJV)

The passage in Acts 23:12 records a stark and violent oath taken by a group of Jews who resolved not to eat or drink until they had killed the apostle Paul. This oath reflects the intense hostility that Paul faced from certain Jewish factions during his missionary ministry.

Earlier in the same chapter, Paul, aware that the Sanhedrin was divided between Sadducees—who denied the resurrection—and Pharisees—who affirmed it—made a strategic declaration. He rose and addressed the council, saying, “Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being accused.” (Acts 23:1‑2, KJV). By identifying himself with the Pharisees, Paul sought to create a theological split that might protect him from a unanimous condemnation by the Sadducees. He used the moment to affirm the central Christian doctrine of the resurrection, turning the legal proceeding into a discussion of belief rather than a simple criminal accusation.

It is important to note that the quotation above does not appear in Acts 23:12. Verse 12 of the same chapter records a completely different event: a group of Jews swearing an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. The speech attributed to Paul belongs to verses 1‑2, not verse 12. This distinction underscores the contrast between Paul’s strategic theological appeal and the violent conspiracy against him that is described in verse 12.

The episode illustrates both Paul’s keen awareness of the religious landscape of his day and the severe opposition he encountered. The oath in verse 12 highlights the depth of animosity toward the gospel and serves as a sobering reminder of the costs of faithful witness in a hostile environment.