Acts 5 40

Acts 5:40 kjv

And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

Acts 5:40 nkjv

And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

Acts 5:40 niv

His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

Acts 5:40 esv

and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

Acts 5:40 nlt

The others accepted his advice. They called in the apostles and had them flogged. Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go.

Acts 5 verses

Acts 5 40 Meaning

Acts 5:40 describes the immediate consequence of the Sanhedrin's deliberation regarding the arrested apostles. The Jewish council, swayed by Gamaliel's wise counsel to avoid direct opposition to God, agreed to his suggestion. However, unable to fully abandon their animosity and perceived authority, they chose a middle path: they called back the apostles, subjected them to a physical beating as punishment, and reiterated their command that the apostles cease speaking and teaching in the name of Jesus before releasing them. This verse highlights the Sanhedrin's compromise—refraining from execution while still exercising their power through violence and prohibition—and foreshadows the ongoing conflict between divine mandate and human resistance.

Acts 5 40 Context

Acts Chapter 5 portrays the early Christian community's dynamic growth and the escalating conflict with the Jewish religious establishment. Following the anointing by the Holy Spirit and subsequent miracles and teachings, the apostles frequently preached in the Temple, drawing many to faith. This spiritual fervor and numerical growth provoked the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish judicial and religious council, who perceived the apostles' message and miracles as a direct challenge to their authority and tradition. They had already imprisoned the apostles once, only for an angel to miraculously release them (Acts 5:17-21). Despite their divine release, the apostles immediately resumed preaching in the Temple (Acts 5:21). Re-arrested, they firmly declared their unwavering commitment to "obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29). Faced with such bold defiance and possibly fearing the populace, who respected the apostles, the council became infuriated and sought to kill them (Acts 5:33). It is at this critical juncture that Gamaliel, a highly respected Pharisee and teacher of the law, intervened (Acts 5:34-39), advocating caution, suggesting that if the apostles' movement was merely human, it would fail, but if from God, they would be found fighting against Him. Verse 40 records the Sanhedrin's resolution based on Gamaliel's advice.

Acts 5 40 Word analysis

• And to him they agreed.
  • Greek: "Καὶ αὐτῷ προσεκλίθησαν" (Kai auto prosekli-thesan)
  • Prosekli-thesan (προσ​εκλίθησαν): Aorist passive indicative of prosklino, meaning "to incline towards, assent to, agree with, side with." It denotes that the council leaned towards or accepted Gamaliel's argument. This shows Gamaliel's significant influence and authority within the Sanhedrin, especially as a Pharisee capable of swaying Sadducees, who were his primary opponents and held much power in the council. Despite their earlier furious intent (Acts 5:33), Gamaliel's logical and theological reasoning provided them with a face-saving, cautious approach, allowing them to retreat from an impulsive, extreme action without fully conceding.
• And when they had called the apostles,
  • Greek: "καὶ προσκαλεσάμενοι τοὺς ἀποστόλους" (kai proskalesamenoi tous apostolous)
  • Proskalesamenoi (προσκαλεσάμενοι): Aorist participle, middle voice of proskaleo, meaning "to call to oneself, summon." They had dismissed the apostles earlier (Acts 5:34) for their deliberation, and now they resummoned them to pronounce their decision and impose punishment.
• and beaten them,
  • Greek: "δείραντες" (deirantes)
  • Deirantes (δείραντες): Aorist participle of dero, meaning "to skin, flay, lash, scourge, beat." This refers to a physical flogging, a common Jewish punishment for minor offenses or perceived insults, legally restricted to 40 lashes minus one (Deut 25:3; 2 Cor 11:24). This act was a display of power, a punishment for their perceived insubordination, and a clear warning, showcasing the Sanhedrin's frustration and inability to silence the apostles by mere command. It served as a symbolic reassertion of their authority over what they deemed disruptive individuals. It's a key example of the suffering predicted by Jesus for His followers (Mt 10:17; Mk 13:9).
• they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus,
  • Greek: "παρήγγειλαν μὴ λαλεῖν ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματι τοῦ Ἰησοῦ" (pareggeilan me lalein epi to onomati tou Iesou)
  • Pareggeilan (παρήγγειλαν): Aorist indicative of paraggello, meaning "to command, instruct, order." This is a forceful directive, repeating the injunction previously issued in Acts 4:18.
  • "in the name of Jesus" (ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματι τοῦ Ἰησοῦ): This phrase is critical. It refers to acting with Jesus' authority, representing Him, and proclaiming Him as the Messiah and resurrected Lord. For the Sanhedrin, this was a challenge to their authority, their interpretation of the Torah, and ultimately, a blasphemous claim, as they rejected Jesus as Messiah. Their repeated prohibition reveals the core issue: not merely their actions, but their message rooted in Jesus' divine authority.
• and let them go.
  • Greek: "καὶ ἀπέλυσαν αὐτούς" (kai apelysan autous)
  • Apelysan (ἀπέλυσαν): Aorist indicative of apoluo, meaning "to release, let go, send away." This action shows their compliance with Gamaliel's advice to refrain from executing the apostles. While the physical punishment underscored their displeasure, releasing them meant avoiding bloodshed and risking potential popular unrest if the revered apostles were killed. This demonstrated a strategic decision, rather than a change of heart, aiming to control the situation and prevent escalation without fully approving the apostles' conduct.

Words-group analysis:

• "And to him they agreed. And when they had called the apostles, and beaten them...": This sequence reveals a nuanced and complex decision by the Sanhedrin. They adopted Gamaliel's strategic patience, yet could not fully control their rage and desire to assert authority. The "agreement" and subsequent "beating" show a dual nature: rational calculation balanced with an emotional, punitive response. They were torn between cautious wisdom and vengeful indignation. The beating itself was a lesser evil in their eyes than execution, fulfilling a need to punish and warn without fully transgressing against potential divine involvement.
• "...they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.": This concluding part emphasizes that despite the physical punishment and the "release," the core conflict remained unresolved. The prohibition against speaking in Jesus' name was the crux of the issue, showcasing the Sanhedrin's fundamental opposition to the Christian message. Their letting them go was an act of pragmatic appeasement of Gamaliel, not an acceptance of the apostles' right to preach. This left the apostles with a clear mandate from God to continue (Acts 5:29) and a renewed conflict with human authority. The struggle was spiritual and authoritative, not just legal.

Acts 5 40 Bonus section

The intervention of Gamaliel (Acts 5:34-39) exemplifies God's providential care for His people, often working through unexpected means or even within hostile environments to protect and preserve His mission. While the Sanhedrin considered killing the apostles, God used Gamaliel's respect for the law and his pragmatic caution to avert bloodshed, reminding us that even the wrath of man can be restrained to serve God's ultimate plan (Ps 76:10). The very next verse (Acts 5:41) reveals the apostles' response: they "departed... rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name." This immediate joy after enduring physical pain and public humiliation demonstrates the true spiritual transformation wrought by the Holy Spirit, embracing suffering as a privilege for Christ's sake, an example that resonated through early Christian experience and continues to inspire believers facing persecution.

Acts 5 40 Commentary

Acts 5:40 is a pivotal moment, showcasing the divine guidance at work through Gamaliel, preventing immediate martyrdom for the apostles while underscoring the relentless opposition they would face. The Sanhedrin's decision to "beat them" rather than execute them was a strategic compromise, an act of punitive humiliation intended to intimidate, suppress, and reassert their dominance. It was an expression of frustration by a powerful religious body whose authority was being undermined by the simple message of resurrected Jesus preached by common men. The reiterated command "not to speak in the name of Jesus" highlights their profound discomfort with the gospel, a message they perceived as blasphemous and revolutionary to their established order. Yet, the divine hand subtly directed their decision to "let them go," ensuring that the mission of the nascent Church would continue unhindered by final destruction. This verse encapsulates the tension between human authority striving for control and divine purpose unfolding inevitably. It also serves as a potent reminder of the cost of discipleship and the joy that arises from suffering for Christ's name.