A.T. Robertson Commentary Acts 26:21

"For this cause the Jews seized me in the temple, and assayed to kill me." — Acts 26:21 (ASV)

Assayed to kill me (επειρωντο διαχειρισασθα). Conative imperfect middle of πειραω, the old form of the later Koine πειραζω so common in the Koine, but in N.T. here only. Some MSS. have it in Ac 9:26; Hebrews 4:15. The old verb διαχειριζω, to take in hand, middle to lay hands on, to slay, occurs in N.T. only here and 5:30 which see.