God’s Word Translation
Acts 5:21
21Early in the morning, after they had listened to the angel, the apostles went into the temple courtyard and began to teach. The chief priest and those who were with him called together the Jewish council, that is, all the leaders of Israel. They also sent men to the prison to get the apostles.
Acts 5:21 in other versions
- King James Version (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.
- New International Version (NIV)At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught. But the high priest and those with him came and called the council together, with all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
Context of Acts 5:21
19But at night an angel from the Lord opened the doors to their cell and led them out of the prison. 20The angel told them, “Stand in the temple courtyard, and tell the people everything about life ⌞in Christ⌟.” Early in the morning, after they had listened to the angel, the apostles went into the temple courtyard and began to teach. The chief priest and those who were with him called together the Jewish council, that is, all the leaders of Israel. They also sent men to the prison to get the apostles. 22When the temple guards arrived at the prison, they didn’t find the apostles. The guards came back and reported, 23“We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors. However, when we opened the doors, we found no one inside.”
Read all of Acts 5Acts 5:21 word by word
ἀκούσαντες δὲ εἰσῆλθον ὑπὸ τὸν ὄρθρον εἰς τὸ ἱερὸν καὶ ἐδίδασκον.¶ Παραγενόμενος δὲ ὁ ἀρχιερεὺς καὶ οἱ σὺν αὐτῷ συνεκάλεσαν τὸ συνέδριον καὶ πᾶσαν τὴν γερουσίαν τῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραὴλ καὶ ἀπέστειλαν εἰς τὸ δεσμωτήριον ἀχθῆναι αὐτούς.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andδέde · thenG1161
- when they heardἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
- they enteredεἰσέρχομαιeiserchomai · to enterG1525
- intoεἰςeis · towardG1519
- the templeὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the templeἱερόνhieron · templeG2411
- ·ὑπόhupo · by/under: byG5259
- early in the morningὄρθροςorthros · dawnG3722
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- taughtδιδάσκωdidaskō · to teachG1321
- the high priestἀρχιερεύςarchiereus · high-priestG749
- cameπαραγίνομαιparaginomai · to comeG3854
- withσύνsun · withG4862
- himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- calledσυγκαλέωsugkaleō · to call togetherG4779
- the councilσυνέδριονsunedrion · councilG4892
- allπᾶςpas · allG3956
- the senateγερουσίαgerousia · council of eldersG1087
- of the childrenυἱόςuihos · sonG5207
- of IsraelἸσραήλIsraēl · IsraelG2474
- sentἀποστέλλωapostellō · to sendG649
- the prisonδεσμωτήριονdesmōtērion · prisonG1201
- to haveἄγωagō · to bringG71
Cross-references for Acts 5:21
- Acts 5:25Then someone told them, “The men you put in prison are standing in the temple courtyard. They’re teaching the people.”
- Luke 21:37During the day Jesus would teach in the temple courtyard. But at night he would go to the Mount of Olives (as it was called) and spend the night there.
- John 8:2Early the next morning he returned to the temple courtyard. All the people went to him, so he sat down and began to teach them.
- Acts 5:17The chief priest and the whole party of the Sadducees who were with him were extremely jealous. So they took action
- Acts 4:5The next day the Jewish rulers, the leaders, and the experts in Moses’ Teachings met in Jerusalem.
- Acts 22:2When the mob heard him speak to them in Hebrew, they became even more quiet. Then Paul continued,
- Luke 22:66In the morning the council of the people’s leaders, the chief priests and the experts in Moses’ Teachings, gathered together. They brought Jesus in front of their highest court and asked him,
- John 18:35Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own people and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?”
- Psalms 105:22Joseph trained the king’s officers the way he wanted and taught his respected leaders wisdom.
- Acts 4:7They made Peter and John stand in front of them and then asked, “By what power or in whose name did you do this?”
- Acts 12:18In the morning the soldiers were in an uproar over what had happened to Peter.
Commentaries on Acts 5:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Called the council together - The sanhedrin, all the senate; , the elders, or what we would call the aldermen. How these differed from the , presbytery, if they did differ, is not now known.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21Early in the morning - Greek: at the break of day. Compare Luke 24:1; John 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 Acts 4:8; Acts 25:15, are called “elders of the Jews,” and who were…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-25Verses 17-25 There is no prison so dark, so strong, but God can visit his people in it, and, if he pleases, fetch them out. Recoveries from sickness, releases out of trouble, are granted, not that we may enjoy the comforts of life, but that God may be honoured with the services of our life. It is not for the preachers of Christ's gospel to retire into corners, as long as they can have any opportunity of preaching in the great congregation. They must…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17-40The apostles' successful ministry caused strong opposition (compare 4:1–3). The wealthy and powerful Sadducees controlled the temple and had a temple police force. They opposed belief in the resurrection and were determined to challenge and, if possible, prevent the apostles from sharing their message about the resurrection of Jesus. They felt their influence over the Jewish people weakening. Jealousy and bitterness led them to attack the apostles.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 17-2317-23. sect of the Sadducees--See on Ac 4:1 for the reason why this is specified.Read the comment
Topics related to Acts 5:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Acts 5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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