Acts 4 5

Acts 4:5 kjv

And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,

Acts 4:5 nkjv

And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes,

Acts 4:5 niv

The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem.

Acts 4:5 esv

On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem,

Acts 4:5 nlt

The next day the council of all the rulers and elders and teachers of religious law met in Jerusalem.

Acts 4 verses

Meaning

Acts 4:5 describes the formal convocation of the Jewish ruling council, the Sanhedrin, in Jerusalem, on the day following Peter and John's healing of the lame man and Peter's subsequent sermon. This verse sets the scene for the apostles' first major confrontation with the supreme religious and judicial authority in Israel, signaling the immediate and significant opposition faced by the nascent Christian movement due to their preaching of Jesus' resurrection. It highlights the power and organizational structure of those who felt threatened by the rapidly spreading message about Jesus.

Cross References

Context

Acts 4:5 takes place immediately after the miraculous healing of a man lame from birth (Acts 3:1-10) and Peter's powerful sermon proclaiming Jesus' resurrection and call to repentance (Acts 3:11-26). This public spectacle, accompanied by Peter's bold declaration of Jesus as the Messiah whom the Jewish authorities rejected, profoundly agitated the temple officials and Sadducees (Acts 4:1-3). The Sadducees, a powerful sect that denied the resurrection, were particularly annoyed by the apostles "proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead." Consequently, Peter and John were arrested and held overnight (Acts 4:3-4). Verse 5 marks the beginning of the formal judicial process against the apostles. Historically, the Sanhedrin, comprising the rulers (high priestly families, predominantly Sadducees), elders (lay leaders, heads of prominent families), and scribes (experts in Mosaic law, often Pharisees), was the highest Jewish legislative and judicial body. Meeting in Jerusalem, this council wielded significant religious and, under Roman oversight, civil authority over Jewish affairs. Their immediate convening "on the morrow" signifies the urgency and seriousness with which they viewed the apostles' actions and message. This scene directly parallels the Sanhedrin's previous tribunals against Jesus himself, highlighting a continuity of opposition from the religious establishment to God's redemptive work.

Word analysis

• And: (Greek: de or kai) Used here to indicate a progression of events, moving from the previous day's arrest to the next day's official proceedings. It sets the scene for a significant unfolding action.
• it came to pass: (Greek: egeneto) A common narrative transition in Luke-Acts, often found in the Septuagint. It signifies an event's occurrence, frequently marking divine orchestration or a pivotal moment.
• on the morrow: (Greek: epaurion) Literally "on the next day." This detail highlights the immediate and urgent response of the Jewish authorities. There was no delay, underscoring the perceived threat the apostles posed.
• that their rulers: (Greek: autōn hoi archontes) "Their" refers to the Jewish people or religious establishment. "Rulers" (archontes) denotes the prominent and influential leaders, specifically the chief priests and aristocratic Sadducee families, who dominated the Sanhedrin. They held substantial religious and political sway.
• and elders: (Greek: kai presbyteroi) These were respected lay leaders, heads of prominent families or experienced community figures. They represented an important segment of the Sanhedrin's diverse membership, contributing to the judicial and administrative decisions.
• and scribes: (Greek: kai grammateis) These were highly educated experts in Jewish law, interpreters, and teachers of the Torah. Often associated with the Pharisees, their presence highlighted the legal and theological challenge posed by the apostles' message, as they were the guardians of religious orthodoxy.
• were gathered together: (Greek: synechthēnai) Signifies a formal and deliberate assembly or convocation. This term indicates an organized, official meeting of the Sanhedrin to address a matter of serious import, not a casual gathering.
• at Jerusalem: (Greek: eis Ierousalēm) The capital and the heart of Jewish religious and political life. The Sanhedrin always met here, underscoring the absolute authority and official nature of the proceedings unfolding at the very center of their nation.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And it came to pass, on the morrow": This phrase functions as a significant temporal and narrative marker. It signals the immediate follow-up to the apostles' arrest, indicating the urgency with which the religious establishment acted to address the burgeoning movement centered on Jesus' resurrection.
• "their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together": This detailed enumeration describes the full composition of the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish court. It highlights the unified and authoritative nature of the opposition confronting Peter and John, representing the entire spectrum of Jewish religious and traditional leadership despite their internal differences.
• "were gathered together at Jerusalem": This specifies the formal setting of the judicial proceedings. Meeting in Jerusalem, the epicenter of Jewish life and the seat of the Sanhedrin's power, emphasized the gravity, legitimacy, and official nature of the impending interrogation of the apostles.

Commentary

Acts 4:5 establishes the critical confrontation between the early apostles and the pinnacle of Jewish religious authority. The immediate and formal convocation of the Sanhedrin ("on the morrow," "gathered together") in Jerusalem underscores the deep concern of the "rulers, elders, and scribes" regarding Peter and John's message and the resulting popular support. This assembly, composed of the powerful Sadducee high-priestly families, respected lay elders, and learned scribes (often Pharisees), indicates a comprehensive, united front. Their primary concern was not just civil unrest but the radical theological challenge posed by the resurrection of Jesus, a doctrine abhorrent to the Sadducees and unsettling to the broader establishment who had rejected and executed Jesus. This verse sets the stage for a judicial battle where human authority attempts to silence divine truth, directly paralleling the trial of Jesus Himself.

Bonus section

The detailed description of the Sanhedrin's composition in Acts 4:5 highlights the various vested interests opposing the Gospel. The Sadducees, primarily the "rulers" and high priests, were fundamentally threatened by the teaching of resurrection as it directly contradicted their core doctrine. The "scribes" were custodians of Jewish law and tradition, likely viewing the apostles' claims as heretical interpretations of Scripture or blasphemy against established authority. The "elders" represented the broad, traditional lay leadership of Israel, seeking to maintain societal order. Their collective presence signifies a concerted, formidable opposition rooted in both theological and sociopolitical concerns. This incident provides insight into the powerful and entrenched systems of religious power that consistently resisted the advancement of God's redemptive plan through history, from the prophets to Jesus, and now the early church.