Acts 23: 21 "Don’t give in to them, because more than forty of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are ready now, waiting for your consent to their request.”
Paul's nephew is speaking. He has heard of the plot, and he took the information to Paul, who sent him to the officials. Paul is sneaked out of Jerusalem to avoid this killing of a Roman citizen. Paul has caused a lot of grief to both Sadducees and Pharisees. They don't like the fact that he is taking the Message to the Gentiles. He has further stirred the pot by referring to the afterlife, which causes dissention between the 2 groups, since the Sadducees don't believe in life after death nor angels nor spirits.
It is astonishing to me that religious people--people who are all about following religious law--could justify this kind of oath. We won't eat or drink until we have killed this guy who disagrees with us, but who worships the same God as us. It is like Islamic militants today. How can man's thinking get so out of whack, especially when the person is trying to please a God who would never condone killing one of His own.
Prayer: Lord, guide those who seek You in a loving, peaceful way. Don't allow their fervor to take them to a place where hate and violence rule. Show them that all Your people are beloved by You. Help us to see others as You see them.
Amen
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