Bible Strands
Acts 5:40
At this, they yielded to Gamaliel. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Sanhedrin yields to Gamaliel’s counsel and commands the apostles to appear before them. They order the apostles to cease speaking in Jesus’ name before releasing them.
The words — προσκαλεσάμενοι (prokalesamenoi) translates as “having called in,” and παρήγγειλαν (parēngeilan) translates as “they commanded.” These verbs establish the council’s procedural control over the apostles.
The thread — The sequence of council delivery and synagogue flogging matches the warnings in Matthew 10:17 and Mark 13:9. The contrast between righteous care and cruel oppression aligns with Proverbs 12:10.
Why it lands — The text records the council’s legal command to silence the apostles before recording their subsequent joy. It requires a reader to note that institutional authority can enforce religious restrictions while remaining subject to divine counsel.
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
King James Version
And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
Cross-references
- Matthew 10:17 But beware of men, for they will hand you over to their councils and flog you in their synagogues.
- Proverbs 12:10 A righteous man regards the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are only cruelty.
- Mark 13:9 So be on your guard. You will be delivered over to the councils and beaten in the synagogues. On My account you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them.
- John 19:1 Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him flogged.
- Acts 4:17 But to keep this message from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in this name.”
- Acts 5:28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us responsible for this man’s blood.”
- 2 Corinthians 11:24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.
- Isaiah 30:10 They say to the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us the truth! Speak to us pleasant words; prophesy illusions.
- Amos 2:12 “But you made the Nazirites drink wine and commanded the prophets not to prophesy.
- Micah 2:6 “Do not preach,” they preach. “Do not preach these things; disgrace will not overtake us.”