Acts 5:28 - saying, “Didn’t we strictly command you not to teach in this name? Behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood on us.”

Generated Verse: Acts 5:28

What does "Acts 5:28" mean?


Acts 5:28 is a statement made by the Jewish religious leaders (specifically the Sanhedrin) to the apostles after the apostles had been arrested and brought before them for continuing to preach about Jesus. Let's break down the verse:

"Didn't we strictly command you not to teach in this name?": This refers to a previous order given to the apostles to stop preaching about Jesus. The Sanhedrin had warned them (Acts 4:18), but the apostles disobeyed, believing they had to obey God rather than men (Acts 4:19-20).

"Behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching": The Sanhedrin acknowledges the apostles' success in spreading their message about Jesus throughout Jerusalem. The teaching refers to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, His death, resurrection, and salvation.

"and intend to bring this man's blood on us.": This is the most complex part. The Sanhedrin is accusing the apostles of trying to make them responsible for Jesus' death.
They are afraid that by proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah, and pointing out that they unjustly crucified him, the apostles are stirring up public sentiment against them.
"Bringing his blood on us" is a phrase that means taking responsibility for his death, as they had declared "His blood be on us, and on our children!" (Matthew 27:25) at Jesus' trial. They fear that by continuing to proclaim Jesus, the apostles are holding them to account for this statement, and facing judgement as a result.

In essence, the verse shows the Sanhedrin's frustration and fear:

Frustration: They are annoyed that the apostles disregarded their orders.
Fear: They are afraid that the apostles' preaching will lead to public outrage and/or divine retribution for their role in Jesus' crucifixion. They recognize the apostles' effectiveness in spreading their message.

In summary, the verse demonstrates the escalating conflict between the apostles, who believed in Jesus, and the Jewish religious leaders, who felt threatened by the growing influence of Christianity and didn't want to be held accountable for Jesus' death.