Acts 5:21 - When they heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak, and taught. But the high priest came, and those who 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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What does "Acts 5:21" mean?
Acts 5:21 describes a conflict between the early apostles and the Jewish religious authorities in Jerusalem. Here's a breakdown of the meaning:
"When they heard this...": This refers back to verse 20, where an angel of the Lord commanded the apostles, who had been miraculously released from prison, to "Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life."
"...they entered into the temple about daybreak, and taught.": The apostles, obedient to the angel's command, immediately went to the temple (the center of religious life in Jerusalem) early in the morning to preach the message of Jesus. They were bold and proactive in spreading their message.
"But the high priest came, and those who were with him...": The high priest (the head of the Jewish religious leadership) and his associates (likely other priests and officials) arrived.
"...and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel...": This refers to the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish governing council, which included religious and political leaders. The high priest convened this important body to deal with the apostles' actions.
"...and sent to the prison to have them brought.": The Sanhedrin sent officers to the prison to retrieve the apostles, unaware that they had already been miraculously freed. They were following standard procedure to bring the accused before the council for questioning and judgment.
In essence, the verse depicts a clash between divine mission and human authority. The apostles were acting on what they believed was a direct command from God, while the Jewish authorities were attempting to maintain order and control within their religious system. This sets the stage for the next part of the story, where the authorities are surprised to find the apostles are no longer in prison and are back in the temple teaching.
Acts 5:21 - When they heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak, and taught. But the high priest came, and those who 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.
What does "Acts 5:21" mean?
Acts 5:21 describes a conflict between the early apostles and the Jewish religious authorities in Jerusalem. Here's a breakdown of the meaning:
"When they heard this...": This refers back to verse 20, where an angel of the Lord commanded the apostles, who had been miraculously released from prison, to "Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life."
"...they entered into the temple about daybreak, and taught.": The apostles, obedient to the angel's command, immediately went to the temple (the center of religious life in Jerusalem) early in the morning to preach the message of Jesus. They were bold and proactive in spreading their message.
"But the high priest came, and those who were with him...": The high priest (the head of the Jewish religious leadership) and his associates (likely other priests and officials) arrived.
"...and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel...": This refers to the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish governing council, which included religious and political leaders. The high priest convened this important body to deal with the apostles' actions.
"...and sent to the prison to have them brought.": The Sanhedrin sent officers to the prison to retrieve the apostles, unaware that they had already been miraculously freed. They were following standard procedure to bring the accused before the council for questioning and judgment.
In essence, the verse depicts a clash between divine mission and human authority. The apostles were acting on what they believed was a direct command from God, while the Jewish authorities were attempting to maintain order and control within their religious system. This sets the stage for the next part of the story, where the authorities are surprised to find the apostles are no longer in prison and are back in the temple teaching.