Acts 5:21

At daybreak the apostles entered the temple courts as they had been told and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The apostles act at daybreak, entering the temple courts to teach as previously commanded, while the high priest and his associates convene the full Sanhedrin and dispatch officers to the jail. This occurs immediately after the apostles' miraculous release and just before the temple officers report their absence.

The words — ἀκούσαντες (akousantes) means "having heard," indicating the apostles' obedience to the prior command. εἰσῆλθον (eisēlthon) translates literally as "they entered," marking their deliberate return to the temple courts at dawn.

The thread — The pattern of teaching in the temple courts at dawn echoes Jesus’ own ministry in John 8:2 and fulfills the prophetic instruction of Psalm 105:22 regarding divine wisdom for leaders. The confrontation between temple authorities and the apostles mirrors the judicial tensions recorded in Matthew 5:22.

Why it lands — The text requires readers to recognize that obedience to divine instruction overrides human prohibition, even when authorities actively seek to suppress it. It demands a clear-eyed assessment of institutional power versus prophetic mandate without romanticizing the conflict.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

ἀκούσαντεςakousantesHaving heard δὲdenow εἰσῆλθονeisēlthonthey entered ὑπὸhupoat τὸνtonthe ὄρθρονorthrondawn εἰςeisinto τὸtothe ἱερὸνhi'erontemple καὶkaiand ἐδίδασκον.¶edidaskonwere teaching.ΠαραγενόμενοςParagenomenosHaving come δὲdenow ὁhothe ἀρχιερεὺςarchiereushigh priest καὶkaiand οἱhoithose σὺνsunwith αὐτῷautōhim συνεκάλεσανsunekalesanthey called together τὸtothe συνέδριονsunedrionCouncil καὶkaieven πᾶσανpasanall τὴνtēnthe γερουσίανgerousianSenate τῶνtōnof the υἱῶνhuiōnsons ἸσραὴλIsraēlof Israel καὶkaiand ἀπέστειλανapesteilansent εἰςeisto τὸtothe δεσμωτήριονdesmōtērionprison house ἀχθῆναιachthēnaito bring αὐτούς.autousthem.

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

John 8:2 Early in the morning He went back into the temple courts. All the people came to Him, and He sat down to teach them.
Psalms 105:22 to instruct his princes as he pleased and teach his elders wisdom.
Matthew 5:22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.
Luke 21:37 Every day Jesus taught at the temple, but every evening He went out to spend the night on the Mount of Olives.
Luke 22:66 At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and scribes, met together. They led Jesus into their Sanhedrin and said,
John 18:35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed You over to me. What have You done?”
Acts 4:5 The next day the rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem,
Acts 5:17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They went out
Acts 5:24 When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this account, they were perplexed as to what was happening.
Acts 5:27 They brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, where the high priest interrogated them.