More than forty Jews formed a 'conspiracy' against Paul, binding themselves under oath to neither eat nor drink until they killed him. Classical usage denotes political clubs or confederacies sworn by oath; Luke's usage is sinister, framing the plot as organized religious terrorism. Spanish 'conjuración' and French 'conspiration' preserve the oath-bound alliance sense, distinguishing this from casual hostility—this was premeditated, corporate violence, ritualized by vow.