Now when the high priest and those who were with him arrived, they summoned the Sanhedrin⁴⁸—that is, the whole high council⁴⁹ of the Israelites⁵⁰—and sent to the jail to have the apostles⁵¹ brought before them.⁵²^5:22But the officers⁵³ who came for them⁵⁴ did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported,⁵⁵^5:23“We found the jail locked securely and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them,⁵⁶ we found no one inside.” ^5:24Now when the commander⁵⁷ of the temple guard⁵⁸ and the chief priests heard this report,⁵⁹ they were greatly puzzled concerning it,⁶⁰ wondering what this could⁶¹ be. ^5:25But someone came and reported to them, “Look! The men you put in prison are standing in the temple courts⁶² and teaching⁶³ the people!” ^5:26Then the commander⁶⁴ of the temple guard⁶⁵ went with the officers⁶⁶ and brought the apostles⁶⁷ without the use of force⁶⁸ (for they were afraid of being stoned by the people).⁶⁹

^5:27When they had brought them, they stood them before the council,⁷⁰ and the high priest questioned⁷¹ them, ^5:28saying, “We gave⁷² you strict orders⁷³ not to teach in this name.⁷⁴ Look,⁷⁵ you have filled Jerusalem⁷⁶ with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood⁷⁷ on us!” ^5:29But Peter and the apostles replied,⁷⁸ “We must obey⁷⁹ God rather than people.⁸⁰^5:30The God of our forefathers⁸¹ raised up Jesus, whom you seized and killed by hanging him on a tree.⁸²^5:31God exalted him⁸³ to his right hand as Leader⁸⁴ and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.⁸⁵^5:32And we are witnesses of these events,⁸⁶ and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey⁸⁷ him.”

^5:33Now when they heard this, they became furious⁸⁸ and wanted to execute them.⁸⁹

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Footnotes

46 Grk “the temple.” See the note on the same phrase in the preceding verse.
47 The imperfect verb ἐδίδασκον (edidaskon) has been translated as an ingressive imperfect.
48 Or “the council” (the highest legal, legislative, and judicial body among the Jews).
49 A hendiadys (two different terms referring to a single thing) is likely here (a reference to a single legislative body rather than two separate ones) because the term γερουσίαν (gerousian) is used in both 1 Macc 12:6 and Josephus, 13.5.8 (13.166) to refer to the Sanhedrin.
50 Grk “sons of Israel.”
51 Grk “have them”; the referent (the apostles) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
52 The words “before them” are not in the Greek text but are implied.
53 The Greek term ὑπηρέτης (hupēretēs) generally means “servant,” but in the NT is used for many different types of servants, like attendants to a king, the officers of the Sanhedrin (as here), assistants to magistrates, and (especially in the Gospel of John) Jewish guards in the Jerusalem temple (see L&N 35.20).
54 The words “for them” are not in the Greek text but are implied.
55 Grk “reported, saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in English and has not been translated.
56 The word “them” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects in Greek were often omitted when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.
57 Or “captain.”
58 Grk “the official of the temple,” a title for the commander of the Jewish soldiers guarding the temple (thus the translation, “the commander of the temple guard”). See L&N 37.91.
59 Grk “heard these words.”
60 Grk “concerning them,” agreeing with the plural antecedent “these words.” Since the phrase “these words” was translated as the singular “this report,” the singular “concerning it” is used here.
61 The optative verb here expresses confused uncertainty.
62 Grk “the temple.” This is actually a reference to the courts surrounding the temple proper, and has been translated accordingly.
63 Obeying God (see v. 29), the apostles were teaching again (4:18–20; 5:20). They did so despite the risk.
64 Or “captain.”
65 Grk “the official [of the temple],” a title for the commander of the Jewish soldiers guarding the temple (thus the translation, “the commander of the temple guard”). See L&N 37.91.
66 The Greek term ὑπηρέτης (hupēretēs) generally means “servant,” but in the NT is used for many different types of servants. See the note on the word “officers” in v. .
67 Grk “brought them”; the referent (the apostles) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
68 Or “without violence.” It is clear, as well, that the apostles did not resist arrest.
69 Grk “for they feared lest they be stoned by the people.” The translation uses a less awkward English equivalent. This is an explanatory note by the author.
70 Or “the Sanhedrin” (the highest legal, legislative, and judicial body among the Jews).
71 Or “interrogated,” “asked.”
72 The majority of , including a few important witnesses (א2 D E [Ψ] 1739 𝔐 sy sa), have the negative particle οὐ (ou) here, effectively turning the high priest’s words into a question: “Did we not give you strict orders not to teach in this name?” But the earliest and most important , along with some others (𝔓74 א* A B 1175 lat bo), lack the particle, making this a strong statement rather than a question. Scribes may have been tempted to omit the particle to strengthen the contrast between official Judaism and the new faith, but the fact that v. 27 introduces the quotation with ἐπηρώτησεν (epērōtēsen, “he questioned”) may well have prompted scribes to add οὐ to convert the rebuke into a question. Further, that excellent witnesses affirm the shorter reading is sufficient ground for accepting it as most probably authentic. includes the particle in brackets, indicating some doubt as to its authenticity.
73 Grk “We commanded you with a commandment” (a Semitic idiom that is emphatic).
74 The name (i.e., person) of Jesus is the constant issue of debate.
75 Grk “And behold.” Because of the length of the Greek sentence and the tendency of contemporary English style to use shorter sentences, καί (kai) has not been translated here.
76 For location see ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; .
77 To bring this man’s blood on us is an idiom meaning “you intend to make us guilty of this man’s death.”
78 Grk “apostles answered and said.”
79 Obey. See 4:19. This response has Jewish roots (Dan 3:16–18; 2 Macc 7:2; Josephus, 17.6.3 [17.159].
80 Here ἀνθρώποις (anthrōpois) has been translated as a generic noun (“people”).
81 Or “ancestors”; Grk “fathers.”
82 Or “by crucifying him” (“hang on a tree” is by the time of the first century an idiom for crucifixion). The allusion is to the judgment against Jesus as a rebellious figure, appealing to the language of Deut 21:23. The Jewish leadership has badly “misjudged” Jesus.
83 Grk “This one God exalted” (emphatic).
84 Or “Founder” (of a movement).
85 Or “to give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.”
86 Or “things.” They are preaching these things even to the hostile leadership.
87 Those who obey. The implication, of course, is that the leadership is disobeying God.
88 The only other use of this verb for anger (furious) is Acts 7:54 after Stephen’s speech.
89 Wanted to execute them. The charge would surely be capital insubordination (Exod 22:28).