24When the temple commander and the chief priests heard these words, they were utterly at a loss about them — what this might come to. [5:25] Then someone arrived and told them: "Look — the men you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people." [5:26] Then the temple commander went with the officers and brought them — without force, for they feared the people, lest they be stoned. [5:27] Having brought them, they stood them before the Sanhedrin, and the high priest questioned them, [5:28] saying: "We strictly ordered you not to teach in this name, and look — you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man's blood on us." [5:29] Peter and the apostles answered: "It is necessary to obey God rather than men. [5:30] The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you laid hands on to kill. [5:31] God exalted this one at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. [5:32] We are witnesses of these things, as is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."
ACT 5:24-32
The Apostles before the Sanhedrin
In the world it was spoken into
In Acts 5:24-32, the apostles stand before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council dominated by the priestly elite. The , or captain of the temple guard, plays a key role, reflecting the temple’s hierarchical authority and its enforcement of religious order. The Sanhedrin’s perplexity underscores their inability to reconcile the apostles’ miraculous escape with their own control over the temple’s sacred space. The apostles’ bold teaching in the temple, despite their imprisonment, challenges the Sanhedrin’s authority and threatens their grip on religious power. The fear of stoning by the people highlights the volatile dynamics between the religious leaders and the populace, who increasingly viewed the apostles as legitimate teachers. The high priest’s questioning reflects an attempt to reassert control through formal interrogation , a tactic used to suppress dissent. The apostles’ response, invoking Jesus’ resurrection and divine authority, directly confronts the Sanhedrin’s complicity in Jesus’ execution , framing their actions as a rejection of God’s plan.
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How other translations render this
ACT 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.
- BSB
- When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this account, they were perplexed as to what was happening.
- Koinōnos
- When the temple commander and the chief priests heard these words, they were utterly at a loss about them — what this might come to.
ACT 5:25
- KJV
- Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.
- BSB
- Then someone came in and announced, “Look, the men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people!”
- Koinōnos
- Then someone arrived and told them: "Look — the men you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.
ACT 5:26
- KJV
- Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
- BSB
- At that point, the captain went with the officers and brought the apostles—but not by force, for fear the people would stone them.
- Koinōnos
- Then the temple commander went with the officers and brought them — without force, for they feared the people, lest they be stoned.
ACT 5:27
- KJV
- And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
- BSB
- They brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, where the high priest interrogated them.
- Koinōnos
- Having brought them, they stood them before the Sanhedrin, and the high priest questioned them,
ACT 5:28
- KJV
- Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.
- BSB
- “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us responsible for this manʼs blood.”
- Koinōnos
- saying: "We strictly ordered you not to teach in this name, and look — you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man's blood on us.
ACT 5:29
- KJV
- Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
- BSB
- But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.
- Koinōnos
- Peter and the apostles answered: "It is necessary to obey God rather than men.
ACT 5:30
- KJV
- The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
- BSB
- The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging Him on a tree.
- Koinōnos
- The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you laid hands on to kill.
ACT 5:31
- KJV
- Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
- BSB
- God exalted Him to His right hand as Prince and Savior, in order to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.
- Koinōnos
- God exalted this one at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
ACT 5:32
- KJV
- And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
- BSB
- We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
- Koinōnos
- We are witnesses of these things, as is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Where the historical framing draws from
- Josephus, AntiquitiesAntiquities 18.3.3
›Josephus, Antiquities Antiquities 18.3.3
“And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, 9 those that loved him at the first did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day”
Cited to ground: The apostles’ response, invoking Jesus’ resurrection and divine authority, directly confronts the Sanhedrin’s complicity in Jesus’ execution
Translator's notes
ACT 5:24
- the priest:The word translated 'the priest' here refers to a temple officer or captain, specifically the commander of the temple guard, not a priest in the sacrificial sense.
- and:The word translated 'and' here actually conveys a sense of being utterly perplexed or at a loss, indicating deep confusion and doubt among the listeners.
ACT 5:28
- Surely:The word translated 'Surely' here carries the force of a formal command or order issued by an authority, often in a military context, emphasizing the seriousness of the prohibition.
ACT 5:30
- killed:The word translated 'killed' here literally means to lay hands on someone with the intent to slay, often implying a violent or decisive act of execution.