When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Greek word used here, vividly translated as "cut to the heart," literally means "to be sawn through," suggesting an intense, visceral reaction of rage and indignation, not the pangs of conscience that lead to repentance. This violent imagery shows their anger was so fierce it felt like a saw was tearing through them.
When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After Peter boldly declared they must obey God rather than human authorities and charged the council with Jesus' murder, their furious response showed no sign of repentance. The leadership, particularly the Sadducees, felt "cut to the heart"—a violent, sawing sensation of rage, not remorse—and immediately began plotting to kill the apostles. This fierce opposition, however, was momentarily halted by the counsel of Gamaliel, a respected Pharisee, who advised caution.
Ever felt so angry you wanted to lash out? The leaders in Acts 5 felt that, but it wasn't just simple anger. It was a deep, violent reaction to the apostles' message.
The word used here, 'cut to the heart,' isn't about a gentle nudge of conviction. It comes from a Greek word that literally means 'to saw through.' Think of a saw ripping through wood – that's the kind of intense, painful agitation described.
This wasn't a sting of guilt that led to repentance, like in Acts 2:37. Instead, it was a furious, almost physical tearing of their inner being. Their rage was so profound it felt like they were being sawed apart by the truth the apostles declared: that they had rejected and killed the Messiah, yet He was alive and in power.
This reaction reveals how deeply uncomfortable and threatening the Gospel can be to those who are determined to hold onto their own power and worldview.
Anger can make us say and do things we regret. For these leaders, their intense fury didn't just stop at boiling; it immediately moved to plotting destruction.
The response of the Sanhedrin wasn't just emotional; it was actionable. 'They took counsel to slay them' shows an immediate shift from internal agitation to external plotting. Their rage fueled a desire to eliminate the source of their discomfort – the apostles.
This wasn't a reasoned debate or a legal process. It was a conspiracy born out of indignation and a desire to silence a message that threatened their authority and their rejection of Jesus. The mention of 'taking counsel' implies a deliberate, albeit secret, plan to commit murder.
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It's a stark reminder that opposition to God's truth often escalates from mere annoyance to active attempts to destroy it and its messengers.
The intense fury of the Sanhedrin in Acts 5:33 highlights the deep theological and political conflict. The apostles' unwavering proclamation of Jesus' resurrection directly challenged the Sadducees' denial of an afterlife and threatened the established religious order.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
The central events of Christianity, including Jesus' death and resurrection, which form the core of the apostles' message.
c. AD 30-33
Pentecost and the Holy Spirit's Outpouring
The apostles are empowered by the Holy Spirit, enabling them to boldly preach the gospel and perform miracles, leading to the rapid growth of the early church.
c. AD 34
Healing of the Lame Man at the Temple
Peter and John heal a man lame from birth, drawing a large crowd and leading to their arrest by the temple authorities.
c. AD 34
Apostles' Trial Before the Sanhedrin
Peter and John boldly preach about Jesus before the Jewish ruling council (Sanhedrin), despite being threatened and ordered to stop.
c. AD 34
Apostles Freed by an Angel, Rearrested
The apostles are miraculously released from prison but are found preaching again in the temple, leading to their rearrest.
c. AD 34— this verse
Second Trial and Gamaliel's Counsel
The apostles are brought before the Sanhedrin again, where Peter delivers a powerful speech. The council, advised by the Pharisee Gamaliel, decides to release them after a flogging.
Jesus warned his followers that the world would hate them, just as it hated him. This passage shows the same kind of intense, murderous rage directed at the apostles that Jesus predicted would come upon believers.
Acts 7:54Stephen, like Peter here, speaks boldly about Jesus to the religious authorities. The reaction is strikingly similar: 'cut to the heart' and intense rage, leading to a violent end for Stephen.
Exodus 20:1-17The religious leaders' fury stems from the apostles’ unwavering obedience to God's commands over human decrees. This highlights the ancient tension between obeying God's law and worldly authority.
Matthew 2:16King Herod's reaction to the wise men's report of Jesus' birth shows a similar murderous intent driven by fear and a desire to maintain power. This demonstrates a pattern of rulers seeking to eliminate perceived threats to their authority.
vincentActs 5:33: "When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them."
They were cut to the heart (διεπρίοντο)Only here and Acts 7:54. The verb means, originally, to saw asunder. A strong figure for exasperation.To slaySee on Luke 23:32.
meyerActs 5:33: "When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them."
Acts 5:33 . Διεπρίοντο ] not: they gnashed with the teeth , which would be διέπριον τοὺς ὀδόντας (Lucian. Calumn . 24), but dissecabantur (Vulgate), comp. Acts 7:54 : they were sawn through , cut through as by a saw (Plat. Conv. p. 193 A; Aristoph. Eq. 768; 1 Chronicles 20:3 ; see Suicer, Thes. I. p. 880; Valckenaer, p. 402 f.),—a figurative expression (comp. Acts 2:37 ) of deeply penetrating painful i…
The Greek word used here, vividly translated as "cut to the heart," literally means "to be sawn through," suggesting an intense, visceral reaction of rage and indignation, not the pangs of conscience that lead to repentance. This violent imagery shows their anger was so fierce it felt like a saw was tearing through them.
After Peter boldly declared they must obey God rather than human authorities and charged the council with Jesus' murder, their furious response showed no sign of repentance. The leadership, particularly the Sadducees, felt "cut to the heart"—a violent, sawing sensation of rage, not remorse—and immediately began plotting to kill the apostles. This fierce opposition, however, was momentarily halted by the counsel of Gamaliel, a respected Pharisee, who advised caution.
After Peter boldly declared they must obey God rather than human authorities and charged the council with Jesus' murder, their furious response showed no sign of repentance. The leadership, particularly the Sadducees, felt "cut to the heart"—a violent, sawing sensation of rage, not remorse—and immediately began plotting to kill the apostles. This fierce opposition, however, was momentarily halted by the counsel of Gamaliel, a respected Pharisee, who advised caution.
"When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them." — The Greek word used here, vividly translated as "cut to the heart," literally means "to be sawn through," suggesting an intense, visceral reaction of rage and indignation, not the pangs of conscience…
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Last reviewed October 2026