Acts 5 18

Acts 5:18 kjv

And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.

Acts 5:18 nkjv

and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison.

Acts 5:18 niv

They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.

Acts 5:18 esv

they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison.

Acts 5:18 nlt

They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.

Acts 5 verses

Acts 5 18 Meaning

Acts 5:18 records the direct response of the religious authorities in Jerusalem to the rapid growth and powerful signs accompanying the apostles' ministry. Following a period of significant healing and evangelism, where "many were brought to the Lord" (Acts 5:14) and "diseases were healed" (Acts 5:16), the high priest and those with him, primarily Sadducees, were "filled with jealousy" (Acts 5:17). This verse describes their decisive action: they arrested the apostles by seizing them and confined them in the public prison, intending to curb their influence and silence their message about Jesus' resurrection. This act marks an escalation in the opposition faced by the early Church.

Acts 5 18 Context

Acts chapter 5 describes the burgeoning early Christian community in Jerusalem, characterized by the apostles' powerful miracles and bold preaching of the resurrected Christ. Their ministry led to the conversion of "multitudes of both men and women" (Acts 5:14). This success, however, provoked deep envy and anger from the established religious leaders, especially the Sadducees, who vehemently denied the resurrection of the dead (Acts 4:2; 23:8). The Sanhedrin had previously warned Peter and John to stop preaching in Jesus' name (Acts 4:18), but the apostles continued fearlessly, choosing to "obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29). Verse 18 is the direct action taken by the high priest and his allies to halt this expanding movement by arresting the primary conduits of the message—the apostles themselves—and incarcerating them in the city's public jail, intending to deal with them more severely after this initial detention.

Acts 5 18 Word analysis

• And laid hands on (Gk. ἐπέβαλον τὰς χεῖρας, epebalon tas cheiras): This phrase, meaning literally "they cast their hands upon," signifies a hostile act of seizing or apprehending. It is a direct action of physical arrest, not a benign laying on of hands for blessing or appointment. In other contexts, this phrase can denote violent assault (Acts 21:27, 23:27) or initiating a process of punishment. Here, it conveys a forceful apprehension.
• the apostles (Gk. τοὺς ἀποστόλους, tous apostolous): Refers specifically to the twelve chosen witnesses of Jesus Christ's resurrection. Their unique authority and direct commission from the Lord made them the primary targets. Their imprisonment signifies the authorities' attempt to decapitate the burgeoning Christian movement by silencing its foundational leaders and authoritative speakers. This targeting emphasizes the perceived threat these men and their message posed.
• and put them (Gk. ἔθεντο αὐτούς, ethento autous): A straightforward verb meaning "they placed them" or "put them." While simple, in this context it means to confine or imprison them. This is not a casual placement but an act of official, restrictive custody.
• in the public prison (Gk. ἐν τηρουμένῃ δημοσίᾳ, en tēroumenē dēmosia): Lit. "in public custody" or "in public keeping." Dēmosia refers to what belongs to the public, implying it was a municipal or government-run facility, not a private holding. The term tēroumenē (from tēreō) means "being guarded" or "kept," emphasizing their detention under official guard. This suggests the seriousness with which the authorities viewed their activities and the intention to maintain strict control until they could be formally interrogated and tried. It also implies transparency, as arrests in public places required a level of accountability from the arresting powers.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And laid hands on the apostles": This highlights the deliberate and forceful nature of the arrest. It shows the authorities' direct confrontation with the designated leaders of the new faith, signifying the Jewish establishment's official and concerted effort to suppress the apostles' activities and message. This physical act represents the clash between worldly power seeking to control and the divine power manifested through the apostles.
• "and put them in the public prison": This phrase details the immediate consequence of the arrest: official incarceration. The "public prison" indicates a formal and recognized place of detention, signifying that the arrest was an official state (or rather, Sanhedrin-sanctioned) act. Placing them in a public facility suggests an attempt to remove them from public view and influence, and potentially to subject them to formal legal processes and punishment away from the sympathizing crowds. The intention was containment and suppression of their teaching and miraculous works.

Acts 5 18 Bonus section

The speed with which the arrest follows the public success of the apostles (Acts 5:12-16) highlights the immediate threat the Sanhedrin perceived. This was not a minor issue for them; it was a fundamental challenge to their authority and doctrinal positions, particularly regarding the resurrection. The Sadducees, as keepers of the temple and major power brokers, were particularly invested in suppressing anything that might disrupt their status quo or draw crowds to new teachings. The prison itself was a place of darkness and constraint, yet for the apostles, it was an environment where God's power would be uniquely displayed in their miraculous release, turning an act of suppression into a further testament to divine endorsement. This event also serves as a crucial point of distinction, demonstrating that the apostles faced persecution for faithfulness, a characteristic predicted for Christ's followers.

Acts 5 18 Commentary

Acts 5:18 marks a pivotal moment in the narrative of the early Church, transitioning the conflict from mere warnings and threats to overt physical persecution. The Sadducees, driven by jealousy and a theological opposition to the resurrection, targeted the apostles, understanding them to be the core propagators of the Christian message. Their intent was clear: to silence the powerful proclamation of Jesus' resurrection by imprisoning its primary witnesses. This act was not an arbitrary or private one; it was an official detention within a "public prison," emphasizing the institutional power leveraged against the nascent faith. However, this act of confinement would prove ineffective in stopping God's work, setting the stage for divine intervention that would dramatically undermine the authorities' efforts, showing that the "word of God is not bound" (2 Tim 2:9). The imprisonment also serves to intensify the apostles' resolve and underscore their unwavering commitment to Christ.