Acts 5:21 kjv
And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
Acts 5:21 nkjv
And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught. But the high priest and those with him came and called the council together, with all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
Acts 5:21 niv
At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin?the full assembly of the elders of Israel?and sent to the jail for the apostles.
Acts 5:21 esv
And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
Acts 5:21 nlt
So at daybreak the apostles entered the Temple, as they were told, and immediately began teaching. When the high priest and his officials arrived, they convened the high council ? the full assembly of the elders of Israel. Then they sent for the apostles to be brought from the jail for trial.
Acts 5 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 5:20 | Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. | Angel's command, to which 5:21 is immediate obedience. |
| Acts 4:18-20 | ...they called them and charged them not to speak... But Peter and John answered... "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you..." | Foreshadows apostles' continued defiance of human order. |
| Acts 5:42 | And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. | Continuous ministry in temple, even after this incident. |
| Acts 2:46 | And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes... | Early church's regular presence in the temple. |
| Mt 26:55 | I sat daily in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. | Jesus taught publicly in the temple courts. |
| Lk 21:37 | And every day he was teaching in the temple, but at night he went out and lodged on the mount called Olivet. | Jesus' regular practice of teaching in the temple. |
| Lk 12:11-12 | When they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious... | Prophetic warning of apostles facing councils. |
| Jn 18:28 | Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the Praetorium. It was early morning. | Councils/trials often convened early morning for urgency. |
| Mk 1:35 | And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place and there prayed. | Jesus' diligence and early rising for spiritual matters. |
| Jer 7:25 | From the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt to this day, I have persistently sent all my servants the prophets to you... | God persistently sending His messengers. |
| Amos 3:7 | For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets. | God uses angels/prophets to communicate His will. |
| Acts 5:26 | Then the captain with the officers went and brought them... without violence, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people. | Authorities' fear of the people while arresting apostles. |
| Pss 118:6 | The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? | Apostles' lack of fear facing authorities, relying on God. |
| Acts 4:5-6 | On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem... Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas... | Earlier convening of the same Sanhedrin. |
| Num 11:16 | Gather for me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers among them... | Concept of elders (gerousian/Sanhedrin) in Israel. |
| Ex 28:1 | Bring near to you Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the people of Israel, to minister to me in the priest's office... | "High Priest" and "children of Israel" roles defined in OT. |
| Heb 10:25 | Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. | Apostles' diligent meeting/teaching contrasts neglect. |
| 1 Cor 9:16 | For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting, for necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! | Compulsion to preach the Gospel (as the apostles felt). |
| Ps 2:2 | The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed. | Rulers conspiring against God and His servants. |
| Isa 52:7 | How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news... who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns!" | The urgency and joy of public Gospel proclamation. |
| Acts 5:34-39 | But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people... | Shows the composition and some wisdom within the Sanhedrin. |
| Lk 19:47-48 | And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him... | Parallel between attempts to silence Jesus and His apostles. |
| Rom 1:16 | For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. | The power and necessity of the message taught. |
| Acts 5:29 | But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men." | Core principle underpinning the apostles' actions in 5:21. |
| Acts 5:33 | When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. | Authority's hostile reaction to the Gospel's power. |
Acts 5 verses
Acts 5 21 Meaning
Acts 5:21 depicts the immediate and direct obedience of the apostles to the angel's command, as they return to the temple early in the morning to boldly teach the Gospel. Concurrently, the Jewish religious authorities, led by the high priest, convened the Sanhedrin with the intent to bring the apostles to trial, unaware of their miraculous release and resumed public ministry. This verse sets the stage for a dramatic confrontation between divine will, acted out by the apostles, and human authority attempting to suppress it.
Acts 5 21 Context
Acts chapter 5 follows the growing impact of the apostles' ministry, characterized by numerous miracles and increasing numbers of believers. This success, however, also stirred fierce opposition from the Jewish religious leaders, particularly the Sadducees, who were distressed by the apostles' teaching of the resurrection from the dead in Jesus' name (Acts 4:1-3, 5:17).Immediately preceding verse 21, the apostles had been arrested and imprisoned (Acts 5:17-18). However, an angel of the Lord miraculously opened the prison doors and commanded them to "Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life" (Acts 5:19-20). Verse 21 describes the apostles' prompt obedience to this divine directive, despite the obvious danger. At the same time, it highlights the concerted effort of the Jewish supreme court, the Sanhedrin, to deal with these 'disruptive' men. The historical context involves the functioning of the Sanhedrin as the highest religious and judicial body for the Jewish people under Roman rule, possessing authority over religious and many civil matters for the Jews. Their swift action reflects their alarm and desire to suppress the burgeoning Christian movement.
Acts 5 21 Word analysis
- And when they heard that,: The conjunction "And" (kai) links the apostles' action to the previous angelic instruction (Acts 5:20). "Heard that" implies immediate reception and understanding of the angel's clear, divine command. This underscores their faith and readiness to obey, rather than questioning or hesitating due to danger.
- they entered into the temple: Greek: eiselthon eis to hieron. "Hieron" refers to the entire sacred precinct of the Temple, specifically the outer courts (like the Court of the Gentiles), which were open to the public and frequently used for teaching and discussion (Acts 3:11, Lk 19:47). Their return to this public space demonstrates boldness and transparency in their ministry, not fear or secrecy.
- early in the morning,: Greek: hōrsan pros orthron. This phrase signifies "at dawn" or "at first light." It emphasizes the apostles' diligence, zeal, and promptness in fulfilling the divine command. This echoes a pattern of spiritual dedication, where significant events or prayer often occurred at daybreak (Mk 1:35). It contrasts with the sluggishness or fear often associated with danger.
- and taught: Greek: edidaskon. Imperfect tense, suggesting continuous or repeated action. Their primary purpose was to proclaim the message, specifically "all the words of this life" (Acts 5:20), referring to the life offered through Jesus Christ. This was the core of their commission.
- But: Greek: de. A strong contrast. While the apostles were obeying God, the opposing human authority was also taking action, though unaware of the miraculous intervention.
- the high priest came,: The chief priestly family, likely Caiaphas, the incumbent high priest, accompanied perhaps by Annas. They represent the apex of the Jewish religious establishment, whose authority felt threatened by the apostles. Their presence signals a high-level official response.
- and they that were with him,: Refers to the other leading members of the Sadducean party, often those who controlled the Temple revenue and held considerable political influence within the Sanhedrin (Acts 5:17).
- and called the council together,: Greek: synedrion, referring to the Sanhedrin, the supreme legislative and judicial body of the Jewish people. This body consisted of 70 (or 71) members, including chief priests, elders, and scribes. Their swift convocation demonstrates the perceived urgency and seriousness of the apostles' "disobedience."
- and all the senate: Greek: gerousian. This term is often used interchangeably with synedrion (Sanhedrin) in this context or could refer to the entire body of elders and senior members of the Sanhedrin, emphasizing a full and comprehensive assembly, bringing all their collective authority to bear. It suggests the gravity of the situation in their eyes.
- of the children of Israel,: A common biblical designation for the Jewish people or nation as a whole. It indicates that the Sanhedrin acted on behalf of the entire nation, emphasizing their role as representative leaders of God's chosen people, even as they oppose God's direct will.
- and sent to the prison to have them brought.: The immediate objective of the assembled council was to prosecute the apostles. This sets up the dramatic irony of the passage: the Sanhedrin is diligently preparing for a trial of prisoners who are, at that very moment, free and publicly teaching.
Acts 5 21 Bonus section
The phrase "early in the morning" (hōrsan pros orthron) highlights the Jewish tradition of daily devotions and teachings beginning at dawn. For the apostles, this was not just an obedient return but a deliberate choice to resume their mission at a time when the temple would be bustling with worshippers for morning sacrifices and prayers. This maximized their reach, enabling them to speak "to the people," not just to a few individuals. The contrast between the apostles, who were literally walking into a dangerous situation at God's command, and the high priest, who believed the apostles were safely behind bars, provides intense dramatic irony and demonstrates God's confounding of human plans.
Acts 5 21 Commentary
Acts 5:21 dramatically illustrates the clash between divine mandate and human authority. The apostles' immediate obedience, returning to the most public space – the temple – at the earliest possible moment, showcases their unwavering faith and commitment to the Gospel, directly contrasting with the Sanhedrin's human-driven efforts to suppress the message. Their diligence in proclaiming "all the words of this life" stands as a powerful example of prioritizing God's call over personal safety or worldly consequence. Meanwhile, the high priest and the Sanhedrin, diligent in their own agenda, gathered formally to condemn the apostles, unknowingly preparing for an embarrassing discovery. This scene underscores the sovereignty of God, whose plan could not be thwarted by human institutions or prisons, and the absolute necessity for His servants to obey His commands without hesitation.