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Acts 5:21

in Acts 5

At daybreak the apostles entered the temple courts as they had been told and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And when they heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison-house to have them brought.

KJV

And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

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This verse in Acts 5

Commentary

10 notes on this verse

A commentator

Arator

ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 1 · Written before 544.

This symbol does not lack a voice [to explain] why the holy men left this darkness [of prison]. Endowing them richly, he said that these are the ministers of light and that they shine in the whole house just like lamps set atop a stand. …

This site's exposition

an angel of the Lord

on Acts 5:19-21

An angel of the Lord opened the jail doors in the night and sent the apostles back to the temple courts. The phrase the full message of this new life names the whole gospel. At daybreak the apostles obey, teaching in the courts where they had been arrested.

This site's exposition

convened the Sanhedrin

Matthew Henry notes that the apostles obeyed at once, while the council, sure of its prisoners, summoned an extraordinary full assembly. Barnes thinks the elders named here were men of age outside the Sanhedrin, and Clarke calls their exact place unknown. The court convened for prisoners already gone.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

Oecumenius

Commentary on Acts · Written before 550.

proposed

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 Puritans and the Awakening4 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

(2.) They set themselves immediately to execute them, without dispute or delay. They entered into the temples early in the morning (as soon as the gates were opened, and people began to come together there), and taught them the gospel of the kingdom: and did not at all fear what man could do unto them.

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

They, supposing they had the apostles sure enough, called the council together, a great and extraordinary council, for they summoned all the senate of the children of Israel. How they were prepared, and how big with expectation, to crush the gospel of Christ and the preachers of it, for they raised the whole posse.

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

): When they heard this, when they heard that it was the will of God that they should continue to preach in the temple, they returned to Solomon's porch,

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens

And when they heard that,....
2 more voices on this verse

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

Early in the morning - Greek: at the break of day. Compare Luk 24:1; Joh 8:2. Called the council together - The Sanhedrin, or the Great Council of the nation. This was clearly for the purpose of “trying” the apostles for disregarding their commandments. And all the senate - Greek: “eldership.” Probably these were not a part of the Sanhedrin, but were people of age and experience, who in Act 4:8; Act 25:15, are called “elders of the Jews,” and who were present for the sake of counsel Canal advice in a case of emergency.

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

Called the council together - Συνεδριον The sanhedrin, all the senate; την γερουσιαν, the elders, or what we would call the aldermen. How these differed from the πρεσβυτεριον, presbytery, if they did differ, is not now known.

The words behind it

36 Greek words

Every 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.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

John 8:2Early in the morning He went back into the temple courts. All the people came to Him, and He sat down to teach them.5 worksPsalms 58:1Do you indeed speak justly, O rulers? Do you judge uprightly, O sons of men?3 worksActs 2:46With one accord they continued to meet daily in the temple courts and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart,3 worksActs 22:30The next day the commander, wanting to learn the real reason Paul was accused by the Jews, released him and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul down and had him stand before them.3 worksActs 22:5as the high priest and the whole Council can testify about me. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and I was on my way to apprehend these people and bring them to Jerusalem to be punished.3 worksActs 5:27They brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, where the high priest interrogated them.2 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Acts 22:15You will be His witness to everyone of what you have seen and heard.2 worksActs 5:41The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.2 worksActs 12:18–19At daybreak there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter.2 worksLuke 21:37–38Every day Jesus taught at the temple, but every evening He went out to spend the night on the Mount of Olives.2 worksLuke 22:66At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and scribes, met together. They led Jesus into their Sanhedrin and said,2 worksPsalms 105:22to instruct his princes as he pleased and teach his elders wisdom.2 worksMatthew 5:22But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.2 worksActs 5:24–25When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this account, they were perplexed as to what was happening.2 worksActs 5:17Then the high priest and all his associates, who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They went out2 worksActs 5:34But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a short time.2 worksJohn 18:35“Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed You over to me. What have You done?”2 worksActs 22:2–3When they heard him speak to them in Hebrew, they became even more silent. Then Paul declared,2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each 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

    Acts 5:41

    The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.

    it leads to

    • James 1:2

      Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds,

    • 1 Peter 4:13–16

      But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory.

    • Luke 6:22

      Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil because of the Son of Man.

    • Philippians 1:29

      For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him,

    • John 15:21

      But they will treat you like this because of My name, since they do not know the One who sent Me.

  • Through

    John 8:2

    Early in the morning He went back into the temple courts. All the people came to Him, and He sat down to teach them.

    it leads to

    • Matthew 26:55

      At that time Jesus said to the crowd, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would an outlaw? Every day I sat teaching in the temple courts, and…

  • Through

    Acts 22:15

    You will be His witness to everyone of what you have seen and heard.

    it leads to

    • Acts 23:11

      The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so also you must testify in Rome.”

    • Acts 4:20

      For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

Where this verse is studied

About Acts

The Pentecost, El Greco, about 1600, Museo del Prado. Public domain.
The Pentecost, El Greco, about 1600, Museo del Prado. Public domain.
Acts: the study guide →Read Acts 5 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Arator, ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 1; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts.

Read on in Acts 5 →