Focused Passage

Acts 5:27-42

Holy Fear, Bold Witness, and Joyful Suffering

The Spirit purifies the church, the apostles continue powerful witness, the authorities intensify opposition, and the apostles rejoice that they are counted worthy to suffer for Jesus' name.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

27 They brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, where the high priest interrogated them.

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.”

29 But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.

30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging Him on a tree.

31 God exalted Him to His right hand as Prince and Savior, in order to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.

32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

33 When the Council members heard this, they were enraged, and they resolved to put the apostles to death.

34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a short time.

35 “Men of Israel,” he said, “consider carefully what you are about to do to these men.

36 Some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men joined him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.

37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and drew away people after him. He too perished, and all his followers were scattered.

38 So in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone. Let them go! For if their purpose or endeavor is of human origin, it will fail.

39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God.”

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.

41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.

42 Every day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 27

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction They brought them in ἀγαγόντες G71 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural . . . αὐτοὺς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural [and] made [them] stand ἔστησαν G2476 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural before ἐν G1722 Preposition the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Singular Sanhedrin συνεδρίῳ G4892 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular [where] καὶ G2532 Conjunction the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular high priest ἀρχιερεὺς G749 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular interrogated ἐπηρώτησεν G1905 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular them αὐτοὺς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Verse 28

Original words

We gave you strict orders Παραγγελίᾳ G3852 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular . . . παρηγγείλαμεν G3853 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural . . . ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural vvv Οὐ G3756 Particle not μὴ G3361 Adverb to teach διδάσκειν G1321 Verb - Present Infinitive Active in ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition this τούτῳ G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Neuter Singular - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Singular name ὀνόματι G3686 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular he said λέγων G3004 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular Yet καὶ G2532 Conjunction . . . ἰδοὺ G2400 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular you have filled πεπληρώκατε G4137 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular Jerusalem Ἰερουσαλὴμ G2419 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular with τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular your ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural teaching διδαχῆς G1322 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction are determined βούλεσθε G1014 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural to make us responsible for ἐπαγαγεῖν G1863 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active . . . ἐφ’ G1909 Preposition . . . ἡμᾶς G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Plural this τούτου G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular man’s ἀνθρώπου G444 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular - τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular blood αἷμα G129 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Verse 29

Original words

But δὲ G1161 Conjunction Peter Πέτρος G4074 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction the οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural other apostles ἀπόστολοι G652 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural replied Ἀποκριθεὶς G611 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular . . . εἶπαν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural vvv δεῖ G1163 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular We must obey Πειθαρχεῖν G3980 Verb - Present Infinitive Active God Θεῷ G2316 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular rather μᾶλλον G3123 Adverb than G2228 Conjunction men ἀνθρώποις G444 Noun - Dative Masculine Plural
Verse 30

Original words

The G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular God Θεὸς G2316 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular of τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural our ἡμῶν G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural fathers πατέρων G3962 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural raised up ἤγειρεν G1453 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦν G2424 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular whom ὃν G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular you ὑμεῖς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural had killed διεχειρίσασθε G1315 Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 2nd Person Plural by hanging [Him] κρεμάσαντες G2910 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural on ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition a tree ξύλου G3586 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Verse 31

Original words

- G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular God Θεὸς G2316 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular exalted ὕψωσεν G5312 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Him τοῦτον G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular to τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular His αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular right hand δεξιᾷ G1188 Adjective - Dative Feminine Singular [as] Prince Ἀρχηγὸν G747 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction Savior Σωτῆρα G4990 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular [ in order ] to grant δοῦναι G1325 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active repentance μετάνοιαν G3341 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction forgiveness ἄφεσιν G859 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular of sins ἁμαρτιῶν G266 Noun - Genitive Feminine Plural - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular to Israel Ἰσραὴλ G2474 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Verse 32

Original words

- καὶ G2532 Conjunction We ἡμεῖς G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Plural are ἐσμεν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural witnesses μάρτυρες G3144 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural of τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Plural these τούτων G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Neuter Plural things ῥημάτων G4487 Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural and so [is] καὶ G2532 Conjunction the τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular - τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular Holy Ἅγιον G40 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular Spirit Πνεῦμα G4151 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular whom G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular God Θεὸς G2316 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular has given ἔδωκεν G1325 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular to those who τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural obey πειθαρχοῦσιν G3980 Verb - Present Participle Active - Dative Masculine Plural Him αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Verse 33

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction - Οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural When [the Council members] heard this ἀκούσαντες G191 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural they were enraged διεπρίοντο G1282 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction they resolved ἐβουλεύοντο G1011 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural to put [the apostles] to death ἀνελεῖν G337 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active . . . αὐτούς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural

BSB notes

  • ECM, BYZ, TR, and Tischendorf; or they took counsel; SBL, NE, and WH they wanted
Verse 34

Original words

But δέ G1161 Conjunction a τις G5100 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular Pharisee Φαρισαῖος G5330 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular named ὀνόματι G3686 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular Gamaliel Γαμαλιήλ G1059 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular a teacher of the law νομοδιδάσκαλος G3547 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular who was honored τίμιος G5093 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular by all παντὶ G3956 Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular people λαῷ G2992 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular stood up Ἀναστὰς G450 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Singular Sanhedrin συνεδρίῳ G4892 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular [and] ordered that ἐκέλευσεν G2753 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular the τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural men ἀνθρώπους G444 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural be put ποιῆσαι G4160 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active outside ἔξω G1854 Adverb for a short time βραχὺ G1024 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Verse 35

Original words

Men Ἄνδρες G435 Noun - Vocative Masculine Plural of Israel Ἰσραηλῖται G2475 Noun - Vocative Masculine Plural - τε G5037 Conjunction he said Εἶπέν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - πρὸς G4314 Preposition - αὐτούς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural consider carefully προσέχετε G4337 Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural . . . ἑαυτοῖς G1438 Reflexive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural what τί G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular you are about μέλλετε G3195 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural to do πράσσειν G4238 Verb - Present Infinitive Active to ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition these τούτοις G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Plural - τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural men ἀνθρώποις G444 Noun - Dative Masculine Plural
Verse 36

Original words

- γὰρ G1063 Conjunction Some time ago πρὸ G4253 Preposition . . . τούτων G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Feminine Plural . . . τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Plural . . . ἡμερῶν G2250 Noun - Genitive Feminine Plural Theudas Θευδᾶς G2333 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular rose up ἀνέστη G450 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular claiming λέγων G3004 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular . . . ἑαυτόν G1438 Reflexive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular to be εἶναί G1510 Verb - Present Infinitive Active somebody τινα G5100 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular [and] G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Singular about ὡς G5613 Adverb four hundred τετρακοσίων G5071 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural - ἀριθμὸς G706 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular men ἀνδρῶν G435 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural joined [him] προσεκλίθη G4346 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular [He] ὃς G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular was killed ἀνῃρέθη G337 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction all πάντες G3956 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural his followers ὅσοι G3745 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural . . . ἐπείθοντο G3982 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural . . . αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular were dispersed διελύθησαν G1262 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction it all came ἐγένοντο G1096 Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural to εἰς G1519 Preposition nothing οὐδέν G3762 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Verse 37

Original words

After μετὰ G3326 Preposition [him] τοῦτον G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular Judas Ἰούδας G2455 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Galilean Γαλιλαῖος G1057 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular appeared ἀνέστη G450 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition the ταῖς G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Plural days ἡμέραις G2250 Noun - Dative Feminine Plural of the τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular census ἀπογραφῆς G582 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction drew away ἀπέστησεν G868 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular people λαὸν G2992 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular after ὀπίσω G3694 Preposition him αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular He too κἀκεῖνος G2548 Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular perished ἀπώλετο G622 Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction all πάντες G3956 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural his followers ὅσοι G3745 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural . . . ἐπείθοντο G3982 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural . . . αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular were scattered διεσκορπίσθησαν G1287 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Verse 38

Original words

So Καὶ G2532 Conjunction - τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural in the present [case] νῦν G3568 Adverb I advise λέγω G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural Leave ἀπόστητε G868 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural . . . ἀπὸ G575 Preposition these τούτων G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Plural - τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural men {alone} ἀνθρώπων G444 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural - καὶ G2532 Conjunction Let them go ἄφετε G863 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural . . . αὐτούς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural For ὅτι G3754 Conjunction if ἐὰν G1437 Conjunction [their] αὕτη G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Feminine Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular purpose βουλὴ G1012 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular or G2228 Conjunction - τοῦτο G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular - τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular endeavor ἔργον G2041 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular is G1510 Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular of ἐξ G1537 Preposition human origin ἀνθρώπων G444 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural it will fail καταλυθήσεται G2647 Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Verse 39

Original words

But δὲ G1161 Conjunction if εἰ G1487 Conjunction it is ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular from ἐκ G1537 Preposition God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular vvv οὐ G3756 Adverb you will not be able δυνήσεσθε G1410 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 2nd Person Plural to stop καταλῦσαι G2647 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active them αὐτούς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural vvv μή‿ G3361 Adverb vvv ποτε G4219 Conjunction vvv καὶ G2532 Conjunction You may even find yourselves εὑρεθῆτε G2147 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 2nd Person Plural fighting against God θεομάχοι G2314 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Verse 40

Original words

At this δὲ G1161 Conjunction they yielded Ἐπείσθησαν G3982 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural to [Gamaliel] αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction They called προσκαλεσάμενοι G4341 Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Plural the τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural apostles [in] ἀποστόλους G652 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural and had them flogged δείραντες G1194 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural Then they ordered [them] παρήγγειλαν G3853 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural not μὴ G3361 Adverb to speak λαλεῖν G2980 Verb - Present Infinitive Active in ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Singular name ὀνόματι G3686 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of Jesus Ἰησοῦ G2424 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction released [them] ἀπέλυσαν G630 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Verse 41

Original words

- οὖν G3767 Conjunction - μὲν G3303 Particle [The apostles] Οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural left ἐπορεύοντο G4198 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural . . . ἀπὸ G575 Preposition . . . προσώπου G4383 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular Sanhedrin συνεδρίου G4892 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular rejoicing χαίροντες G5463 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction they had been counted worthy κατηξιώθησαν G2661 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural of suffering disgrace ἀτιμασθῆναι G818 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Passive for ὑπὲρ G5228 Preposition the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular Name Ὀνόματος G3686 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Verse 42

Original words

- τε G5037 Conjunction Every πᾶσάν G3956 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular day ἡμέραν G2250 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Singular temple [courts] ἱερῷ G2411 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction from κατ’ G2596 Preposition house [to house] οἶκον G3624 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular vvv οὐκ G3756 Adverb they did not stop ἐπαύοντο G3973 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural teaching διδάσκοντες G1321 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction proclaiming the good news that εὐαγγελιζόμενοι G2097 Verb - Present Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Plural Jesus Ἰησοῦν G2424 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular [is] the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular Christ Χριστὸν G5547 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.