Acts 5:18
in Acts 5and arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
and laid hands on the apostles, and put them in public ward.
KJV
And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
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This verse in Acts 5
Commentary
9 notes on this verseAnd laid their hands on the apostles,.... That is, laid hold on them, and took them, and carried them away; at least their servants did so, by their orders: and put them in the common prison; where malefactors were put; and this both for greater security, and for greater disgrace.
This site's exposition
filled with indignation
on Acts 5:17-18
The high priest and his party, identified here as the sect of the Sadducees, rise up filled with indignation, and the bench takes note of the identification because Sadducean doctrine denied the resurrection of the dead. A movement proclaiming a risen man from the dead in the temple's own courts struck directly at that party's teaching, which sharpens their motive beyond mere jealousy of popularity. They lay hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison, the first arrest of the group as a whole.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"Having risen up," that is, being roused, being excited at the things taking place, the high-priest and they which were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees) were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the Apostles: they now assault them more vigorously: and put them in the common prison; but did not forthwith bring them to trial, because they expected them again to be softened down.
When these things were completed by the apostles, and the multitude was increased by the preaching, and the number of the faithful was already growing great by the daily distribution; the high priest, he says, having risen, that is, being aroused and stirred by what …
The Medieval Church1 voice
"Were filled with envy" means that they were aroused, agitated by what was being said. Now they attack the apostles with greater ferocity, but do not immediately begin to judge them, thinking that the public prison would strike them more forcefully. Look, if you will, …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Satan has carried on his design against the gospel very much by making the preachers and professors of it appear despicable. God sent his angel to release them out of prison, and to renew their commission to preach the gospel.
Those that were most forward to join with the high priest herein were the sect of the Sadducees, who had a particularly enmity to the gospel of Christ, because it confirmed and established the doctrine of the invisible world, the resurrection of the dead, and the future state, which they denied.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Put them in the common prison - It being too late in the evening to bring them to a hearing. To this verse the Codex Bezae adds, και επορευθη εἱς ἑκαστος εις τα ιδια, And each of them went to his own house.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
The common prison - The public prison; or the prison for the keeping of common and notorious offenders.
The words behind it
13 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐπέβαλον | epebalon | they laid | G1911 → | 18 times |
| τὰς | tas | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| χεῖρας | cheiras | hands | G5495 → | 175 times |
| ἐπὶ | epi | on | G1909 → | 883 times |
| τοὺς | tous | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀποστόλους | apostolous | apostles | G652 → | 79 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἔθεντο | ethento | put | G5087 → | 100 times |
| αὐτοὺς | autous | them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τηρήσει | teresei | [the] jail | G5084 → | |
| δημοσίᾳ.¶ | demosia | public. | G1219 → | 4 times |
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐπέβαλονthey laid
epebalonG1911 →18 times
τὰςthe
tasG3588 →19766 times
χεῖραςhands
cheirasG5495 →175 times
ἐπὶon
epiG1909 →883 times
τοὺςthe
tousG3588 →19766 times
ἀποστόλουςapostles
apostolousG652 →79 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἔθεντοput
ethentoG5087 →100 times
αὐτοὺςthem
autousG846 →5565 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τηρήσει[the] jail
tereseiG5084 →
δημοσίᾳ.¶public.
demosiaG1219 →4 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Revelation 2:10Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful…
it leads to
- James 1:12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
- Matthew 10:22
You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
- Revelation 3:10–11
Because you have kept My command to persevere, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the…
- Luke 21:16–19
You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death.
- 1 Peter 5:4
And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
- James 1:12
Through
2 Corinthians 11:23Are they servants of Christ? I am speaking like I am out of my mind, but I am so much more: in harder labor, in more imprisonments, in worse beatings, in frequent danger of…
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 6:4–5
Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships, and calamities;
- 2 Corinthians 1:9–10
Indeed, we felt we were under the sentence of death, in order that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God, who raises the dead.
- 2 Corinthians 6:4–5
Through
Acts 8:3But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
it leads to
- 1 Timothy 1:13
I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy.
- 1 Timothy 1:13
Where this verse is studied
About Acts
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 13; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.