The Greek verb eklaleo is a compound of ek (out) and laleo (to speak, talk), meaning to speak out, blurt out, or divulge. It appears only once in the NT (Acts 23:22), where the tribune tells Paul's nephew not to reveal that he has disclosed the plot against Paul's life.
Though appearing only once, eklaleo appears in a remarkable providential episode. A plot to assassinate Paul was discovered by his nephew and brought to the Roman tribune (Acts 23:12-22). The tribune's command — "Tell no one" — was meant to preserve the secrecy of the counter-operation. Paul's life was preserved not by miraculous intervention but through the ordinary faithfulness of a young man delivering a message, and a Roman officer acting wisely. God's protection of Paul often came through human networks and natural means — demonstrating that providence encompasses the mundane as fully as the miraculous.