Acts 5:33 - Printer Friendly

ESV: When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them.

NIV: When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death.

NASB: But when they heard this, they became infuriated and nearly decided to execute them.

CSB: When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them.

NLT: When they heard this, the high council was furious and decided to kill them.

KJV: When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.

NKJV: When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them.

The high priests have arrested the disciples for disobeying the order to stop teaching in Jesus' name (Acts 4:17–18; 5:17–18). As far as they and the other Sadducees are concerned, Jesus is dead and resurrection from the dead is impossible, no matter how popular the concept might be among the people. But the apostles also directly blame the Sanhedrin for Jesus' death. The Sanhedrin doesn't seem concerned that the apostles also accused a large group of people who probably weren't involved in the crucifixion, many of whom repented and started following Jesus (Acts 2:9–41). Nor do they seem to take into account that the apostles also accused a large crowd of people in the temple courtyard who similarly responded in repentance (Acts 3:13–15; 4:4). What the Sanhedrin knows is that, unlike those other groups, they are specifically, literally, and legally responsible for Jesus' death.

These accusations and claims trouble the Sanhedrin. Still, they aren't what make the Jewish leaders enraged. Peter says, very clearly, that Jesus is the cause of the creation of the Jewish people and the Jewish Messiah, and God elevated Him to sit at His right hand. When Jesus made similar claims, the people tried to stone Him (John 8:48–59). When Stephen describes His vision of Jesus at God's right hand, a mob does stone him, to death (Acts 7:54–60).

When the disciples, terrified of a violent storm, awakened Jesus who was asleep in the boat, Jesus asked them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" (Mark 4:40). He didn't say this because as His followers they will never face hardships. In fact, He promised they will (Matthew 10:16–23). But they know they will not face death until their work is done. For James, this time is coming soon (Acts 12:1–2). Still, they are willing to face physical harm and, eventually, death in the service of their Lord and Savior.

Acts 5:27–42 occurs in the aftermath of a miraculous jailbreak. The chief priests arrested the apostles for teaching and healing in Jesus' name (Acts 5:17–18). On the morning of the inquiry, the guards find the prison cells empty and the apostles, again, preaching in the temple courtyard (Acts 5:22, 25). The guards bring the apostles back, and the Sanhedrin questions them. When the apostles insist Jesus is alive, the priests want them killed. But a Pharisee, Gamaliel, calms the situation. The Sanhedrin do flog the apostles before releasing them, starting the long history of physical persecution against Christ-followers. Verse 29 is a cornerstone of Christian ethics: that God's will is worth suffering for.

The apostles continue to make hard decisions in the name of Jesus, both inside and outside the church. When Ananias and Sapphira lie to God, the Holy Spirit inspires Peter to pronounce God's judgment on them, protecting the church from the love of the world. Despite the Sanhedrin's watchful eye—and direct orders (Acts 4:17–18)—the apostles continue to preach and heal openly. The guards arrest the apostles, but the Sanhedrin settles for beating them instead of capital punishment. The apostles consider it an honor to suffer on behalf of their Savior.

In Acts 5, persecution from unbelievers begins to accelerate. The Sanhedrin has become aware the apostles teach that Jesus rose from the dead (Acts 4). Now, they start to push back in earnest, arresting and beating the apostles. Soon, a mob will kill Stephen, a deacon (Acts 7:54–60), and the Sanhedrin will empower Saul to run down and arrest any Jesus-follower he can find (Acts 8:1–3). The apostles will stay in Jerusalem. Other Jesus-followers will carry His offer of forgiveness and reconciliation with God into the Roman Empire and beyond. The apostles' faithfulness and submission to the Holy Spirit is why we have the gospel message today.

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.