Limitless Word
But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.
Acts 23:16 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB But Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, and he came and entered into the barracks and told Paul.
  • KJV And when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.
  • NKJV So when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their ambush, he went and entered the barracks and told Paul.
  • NASB But the son of Paul’s sister heard about their ambush, and he came and entered the barracks and told Paul.
  • NLT But Paul’s nephew—his sister’s son—heard of their plan and went to the fortress and told Paul.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

Paul's nephew hears of the ambush, goes to the barracks, and warns Paul. God uses an unexpected family member to foil the plot.

Overview

This is the only mention of Paul's relatives in Acts, and the young man's timely action proves decisive. Ordinary providence, working through a boy who happened to learn of the plan, accomplishes God's protective purpose. The Lord who promised Paul would reach Rome provides the means to keep him safe.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 8

  • Acts 23:10The dispute grew so violent that the commander was afraid they would tear Paul to pieces. He ordered the soldiers to go down and remove him by force and bring him into the barracks.
  • 1 Cor 3:19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”
  • Acts 23:32The next day they returned to the barracks and let the horsemen go on with him.
  • Job 5:13He catches the wise in their craftiness, and sweeps away the plans of the cunning.
  • Prov 21:30There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.
  • Lam 3:37Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has ordained it?
  • 2 Sam 17:17Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En-rogel, where a servant girl would come and pass along information to them. They in turn would go and inform King David, for they dared not be seen entering the city.
  • Acts 21:34Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, and some another. And since the commander could not get at the truth because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be brought into the barracks.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (3)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Acts videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Acts 23:16YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on ActsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.

How Acts 23:16 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.