Acts 5 24

Acts 5:24 kjv

Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.

Acts 5:24 nkjv

Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the outcome would be.

Acts 5:24 niv

On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to.

Acts 5:24 esv

Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to.

Acts 5:24 nlt

When the captain of the Temple guard and the leading priests heard this, they were perplexed, wondering where it would all end.

Acts 5 verses

Acts 5 24 Meaning

Acts 5:24 reveals the profound perplexity of the Jewish religious authorities—the high priest, the temple captain, and the chief priests—upon receiving reports that the apostles, who had been imprisoned, were not only missing from their cells but were back in the Temple teaching the people. Their consternation stemmed from the undeniable miraculous event, leaving them utterly baffled and concerned about the implications for their authority and the burgeoning Christian movement. They could not comprehend how such a disappearance and reappearance were possible, nor what further astonishing events might unfold, signaling a serious challenge to their control.

Acts 5 24 Context

Acts chapter 5 describes an intensifying conflict between the rapidly growing Christian community in Jerusalem and the Jewish religious establishment, particularly the Sanhedrin. Prior to verse 24, the apostles had been arrested by the high priest and Sadducees, motivated by jealousy, and placed in public prison (Acts 5:17-18). However, an angel of the Lord miraculously opened the prison doors and instructed them to return to the Temple and continue preaching "all the words of this Life" (Acts 5:19-20). The Sanhedrin then convened a session, sending officers to bring the apostles from prison. Acts 5:24 details the reaction of these leaders when the officers returned with the astonishing news that the prison was shut and guarded, yet the cells were empty, and the apostles were, in fact, publicly teaching in the Temple court. This verse sets the stage for the dramatic confrontation that follows, where Peter reiterates the call to obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29).

Historically and culturally, the Sanhedrin (comprising the high priest, elders, and scribes, many from priestly families) held significant religious, social, and judicial authority under Roman rule. The Temple, their seat of power and Jewish religious life, was where the apostles were publicly ministering, further challenging the Sanhedrin's control and narrative. The Temple captain oversaw the Levitical guards, ensuring order, and his involvement highlights the disruption to their established system. The leaders were accustomed to enforcing their will and tradition, and the supernatural events defied their control, logic, and expectations, particularly given their prior warnings and arrests. The rapid growth of the movement and its association with a resurrected Jesus, whom they had condemned, also represented a polemic against their theological and political standing.

Acts 5 24 Word analysis

• Now when the high priest:

  • high priest (Greek: ἀρχιερεύς, archiereus): This refers to Caiaphas, the supreme religious authority and head of the Sanhedrin, holding immense political and religious sway. His authority was divinely ordained in the Old Testament, but his role was subject to Roman appointment during this period, highlighting the political entanglements of the religious leadership.
  • This group represents the apex of religious and judicial power within Judaism.

• and the captain of the temple:

  • captain of the temple (Greek: στρατηγὸς τοῦ ἱεροῦ, strategos tou hierou): This official was a leading priest, second only to the high priest, in charge of the Temple's security and order. He commanded the Levitical Temple guard. His direct involvement underscores the seriousness with which the Sanhedrin viewed the situation, as the public peace and religious sanctity were under his watch.

• and the chief priests:

  • chief priests (Greek: οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς, hoi archiereis): This broader group encompassed not only the current high priest but also former high priests and the heads of the prominent priestly families. They constituted a powerful aristocratic class within the Sanhedrin, wielding significant influence and deeply invested in maintaining the status quo.

• heard these words:

  • heard (Greek: ἀκούσαντες, akousantes, aorist participle of ἀκούω, akouō): Signifies that they received an immediate, direct report from the officers sent to retrieve the apostles. The news was concrete and undeniable.
  • these words (Greek: τοὺς λόγους τούτους, tous logous toutous): Refers specifically to the report that the prison was empty yet the doors were securely locked, the guards were present, and then, immediately after, that the apostles were found teaching in the Temple (Acts 5:23, 25). It wasn't hearsay, but factual account of an inexplicable situation.

• they were greatly perplexed:

  • greatly perplexed (Greek: διηπόρουν, diēporoun, imperfect active of διαπορέω, diaporeō): This is a strong Greek verb, implying deep and sustained confusion, being utterly at a loss, having no way out. The prefix dia- intensifies the verb aporeō (to be without resources, to be utterly bewildered or distraught). It suggests a state of deep consternation and an inability to understand or resolve the situation, contrasting sharply with their usual authority and control. This was not a minor inconvenience but a profound crisis of comprehension and authority. They had no natural explanation for the events, only supernatural.

• about them:

  • about them (Greek: περὶ αὐτῶν, peri autōn): Refers to the apostles, indicating their confusion directly concerned these specific men and the extraordinary events surrounding them.

• as to what would come of this:

  • as to what would come of this (Greek: τί ἂν γένοιτο τοῦτο, ti an genoito touto): This phrase expresses their fearful uncertainty about the future implications. They were not only puzzled by how this happened but, more crucially, by what this divine intervention signified for their control, the suppression of the Christian movement, and potentially, their own standing and authority before both the people and the Romans. It's a question of consequence, a sign of profound fear regarding an unpredictable outcome beyond their influence.

Acts 5 24 Bonus section

The profound perplexity described in Acts 5:24 illustrates a recurrent theme throughout biblical history: the inability of human wisdom and power to grasp or suppress divine activity. This event showcases God's direct and dramatic intervention not just to protect His servants, but to make a public statement that His kingdom and truth operate by a different power source and obey a higher authority than any earthly one. The Temple officials, focused on maintaining institutional control, were caught between the impossible reality before them and their determined resistance to the gospel. Their confusion highlights the fundamental conflict between the Spirit-empowered mission of the apostles and the fleshly opposition of the established religious system. It sets the stage for the bold declaration by Peter and the apostles, "We must obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29), emphasizing that divine authority supersedes all human directives when they are in conflict. This also serves as a polemic against the perceived omnipotence of their Sanhedrin, demonstrating that even locked doors and a full guard could not hinder the spread of the Word of God.

Acts 5 24 Commentary

Acts 5:24 succinctly captures the profound dismay of Jerusalem's religious leadership as divine intervention openly mocked their human authority. The Sanhedrin's highest officers—the high priest (Caiaphas), the temple captain, and the chief priests—were confronted with irrefutable evidence of a miracle that defied their power and understanding. The carefully secured prison, the guarding officers, and yet, the empty cells while the prisoners were teaching openly in the Temple – this complete paradox exposed the futility of their attempts to contain God's work. Their "great perplexity" was born of fear, a dawning realization that they were battling a force far beyond their jurisdiction. This state of bewilderment wasn't mere curiosity but an existential threat to their control over religious narratives and social order. This scene underscores the consistent biblical theme that human plans and might are powerless against God's sovereign will, leading only to confusion for those who oppose Him, while His purposes are accomplished irrespective of obstacles.