The apostles, hearing they were sought, don't hide but immediately head to the Temple at dawn, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to teach. The authorities, unaware of the apostles' miraculous escape, urgently convene the entire council and eldership, showing how quickly and seriously they reacted to perceived disobedience.
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Having miraculously escaped prison, the apostles immediately return to teaching in the Temple at dawn, undeterred by their previous arrest. This bold defiance prompts the high priest and his associates to convene the entire Sanhedrin, Israel's supreme council, to bring the apostles back to face them.
The apostles are released from prison, but they don't retreat. Instead, they head straight for the Temple to do the very thing they were forbidden to do. What does this tell us about their commitment?
The apostles, having been miraculously freed from prison, immediately seize the opportunity to teach.
The religious leaders hear the apostles are out and teaching. Their immediate reaction is to convene the highest court. Why such urgency and what does this reveal about their mindset?
The authorities' swift and decisive action to reconvene the council shows their determination to regain control and silence the apostles.
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Understand the original words
hieron · Greek Noun
The central sanctuary in Jerusalem, recognized as the dwelling place of God's presence among His people; it was the focal point of Jewish worship, sacrifice, and instruction.
archiereus · Greek Noun
The chief religious official in Judaism, serving as the mediator between God and the people and the presiding officer over the Sanhedrin. He held supreme religious authority and performed the highest duties on the Day of Atonement.
synedrion · Greek Noun
The supreme religious and judicial council of the Jewish people, consisting of 71 members including the high priest, elders, and scribes. It held authority over religious law and civil matters among the Jews.
gerousia · Greek Noun
A descriptive title for the Jewish leadership; it denotes the organized elders or legislative body of Israel, functioning as the authoritative representatives of the people before God and in political matters.
This event highlights the clash between the nascent Christian movement and the established Jewish religious authorities, particularly the Sanhedrin, who represented the pinnacle of Jewish legal and religious power.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
The pivotal events of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection spark the beginning of the early Christian movement.
c. AD 33
Pentecost and the First Believers
The Holy Spirit empowers the apostles, leading to the conversion of thousands and the formation of the first Christian community.
c. AD 33
Apostles Imprisoned and Freed
Peter and John are arrested for teaching in Jesus' name, miraculously freed, and then arrested again after preaching boldly in the Temple.
c. AD 33— this verse
Apostles Brought Before the Sanhedrin
The apostles, having been freed from prison, are brought before the Jewish high council (Sanhedrin) to answer for their continued preaching.
c. AD 33
Gamaliel's Counsel
During the trial, a respected Pharisee named Gamaliel advises the council to let the apostles go, suggesting that if their movement is from God, it cannot be stopped.
c. AD 33
Apostles Beaten and Released
The council beats the apostles and orders them not to speak in Jesus' name again, but the apostles rejoice and continue teaching.
This passage describes the initial arrest of Peter and John, highlighting the authorities' attempt to silence them and the apostles' unwavering obedience to God's commands, setting the stage for the events in Acts 5.
John 3:19-20Jesus speaks about people loving darkness rather than light because their works are evil. This echoes the actions of the religious leaders in Acts 5, who sought to secretly arrest the apostles and bring them before the council, indicating their fear of public reaction.
Daniel 3:16-18Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego's refusal to bow to the king's image, despite the severe consequences, mirrors the apostles' persistent teaching in the temple even after being threatened and imprisoned. Both passages showcase steadfast faith in the face of powerful opposition.
Isaiah 53:7The suffering servant is led like a lamb to the slaughter, opening not his mouth. While the apostles are not silent, this prophetic passage captures the sense of unjust arrest and arraignment that they, like Jesus, faced from the religious authorities.
vincentActs 5:21: "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."
Early in the morning (ὑπὸ τὸν ὄρθρον)Ὑπό, beneath, is often used in the sense of just about, or near. Ὄρθρον, is from ὄρνυμι, to cause to arise: the dawn. See on Luke 24:1. Render as Rev., about daybreak.Tau…
jfbActs 5:12-26: "And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch."
Ac 5:12-26. The Progress of the New Cause Leads to the Arrest of the Apostles—They Are Miraculously Delivered from Prison, Resume Their Teaching, but Allow Themselves to Be Conducted before the Samhedrim.12. Solomon's Porch—(See on [1952]Joh 10:23).
The apostles, hearing they were sought, don't hide but immediately head to the Temple at dawn, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to teach. The authorities, unaware of the apostles' miraculous escape, urgently convene the entire council and eldership, showing how quickly and seriously they reacted to perceived disobedience.
Having miraculously escaped prison, the apostles immediately return to teaching in the Temple at dawn, undeterred by their previous arrest. This bold defiance prompts the high priest and his associates to convene the entire Sanhedrin, Israel's supreme council, to bring the apostles back to face them.
Having miraculously escaped prison, the apostles immediately return to teaching in the Temple at dawn, undeterred by their previous arrest. This bold defiance prompts the high priest and his associates to convene the entire Sanhedrin, Israel's supreme council, to bring the apostles back to face them.
"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 pris…" — The apostles, hearing they were sought, don't hide but immediately head to the Temple at dawn, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to teach. The authorities, unaware of the apostles' miraculous…
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Last reviewed October 2026
