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

But Paul's sister's son, having heard of the lying in wait, came and entered into the fortress and reported it to Paul.

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

And the son of Paul's sister having heard of the lying in wait, having gone and entered into the castle, told Paul,

But Paul's sister's son heard of the intended attack upon him. So he came and went into the barracks and told Paul about it;

But Paul's sister's son had word of their design, and he came into the army building and gave news of it to Paul.

But when Paul's sister's son had heard of this, about their treachery, he went and entered into the fortress, and he reported it to Paul.

However, the son of Paul's sister, hearing of the plot, went to the Fort, and on being admitted, told Paul about it.

Paul's sister's son. We see in this place how the Lord doth cross the purposes of the ungodly. He permitteth them to attempt many things, and he suffereth their wicked endeavors, but at length he showeth even in the twinkling of an eye [1] that he doth from heaven deride whatsoever men go about upon earth. "There is no wisdom," saith Solomon, "there is no counsel against the Lord," (Proverbs 21:30). Whereto that of Isaiah doth answer, "Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought: speak the word, and it shall not stand," (Isaiah 8:10). This is set before our eyes to be considered, in this present history, as in a glass. The matter was almost dispatched, that Paul should come out on the morrow to be slain as an avowed sacrificed. [2] But the Lord doth show that his life is most safely kept, so that whatsoever men go about all is in vain. As for us, let us not fear but that his providence, whereof he showed some token then, reacheth even unto the defending of us, because this promise continueth sure, "There shall not an hair fall from your heads," etc. (Luke 21:18). Moreover, it is worth the noting, that he worketh sometimes by means unlooked for to save those that be his, that he may the better exercise our faith. Who would have thought that a boy would have disclosed their lying in wait, which those who were partners in the conspiracy thought was known to none but to themselves? Therefore, let us learn to lean unto and stay ourselves upon the Lord, though we see no ordinary way to save ourselves, who shall find a way even through places where nothing can pass.

Footnotes

1 - "Ipso articulo," at the very nick of time

2 - "Devota victima," a devoted victim.

Paul's sister's son - This is all that 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 himself 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.

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.

And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait,.... Paul might have a sister living in Jerusalem; or this her son might be there on account of his studies; he might be a pupil to one of the doctors, by which means he might come at this secret, that such a number of men were in ambush, in order to take away his uncle's life: wherefore having got intelligence of it,
he went and entered into the castle; the Alexandrian copy reads, "the synagogue"; but Paul was not there, but in the castle of Antonia; the Ethiopic version renders it, "the prison"; though it is plain that he was not very closely confined, it was easy to have access to him; the reason might be, not only because he was a Roman, but because he was uncondemned, nor was any charge proved against him:
and told Paul; what he had heard, that such a number of men had entered into a conspiracy to take away his life, and lay in wait for him; and this was an instance both of duty and affection to his uncle, and worthy of imitation, whether it proceeded from natural relation, or from religion, or both.

Paul's sister's son--(See on Acts 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.