Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these words, they were very perplexed about them and what might become of this.
Parallel Translations
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Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these words, they were very perplexed about them and what might become of this.
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When the chefe prest of all and the ruler of the temple and the hye prestes hearde these thinges they douted of them whervnto this wolde growe.
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Then when the chiefe Priest, and the captaine of the Temple, and the hie Priestes heard these things, they doubted of them, whereunto this would growe.
Cross-references (15)
Passages linked to Acts 5:24 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Acts 4:1 As they spoke to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came to them,
- Acts 5:26 Then the captain went with the officers, and brought them without violence, for they were afraid that the people might stone them.
- Isaiah 9:7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, on David’s throne, and on his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from that time on, even forever. The zeal of Yahweh of Armies will perform this.
- Isaiah 53:1-2 Who has believed our message? To whom has Yahweh’s arm been revealed? For he grew up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no good looks or majesty. When we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
- Daniel 2:34-35 You saw until a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet that were of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were broken in pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors. The wind carried them away, so that no place was found for them. The stone that struck the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
- Daniel 2:44-45 “In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, nor will its sovereignty be left to another people; but it will break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it will stand forever. Because you saw that a stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God has made known to the king what will happen hereafter. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.”
- Zechariah 6:12-13 and speak to him, saying, ‘Yahweh of Armies says, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: and he shall grow up out of his place; and he shall build Yahweh’s temple; even he shall build Yahweh’s temple; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule on his throne; and he shall be a priest on his throne; and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.
- Mark 4:30-32 He said, “How will we liken God’s Kingdom? Or with what parable will we illustrate it? It’s like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, though it is less than all the seeds that are on the earth, yet when it is sown, grows up, and becomes greater than all the herbs, and puts out great branches, so that the birds of the sky can lodge under its shadow.”
- Luke 22:4 He went away, and talked with the chief priests and captains about how he might deliver him to them.
- Luke 22:52 Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and elders, who had come against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs?
- John 11:47-48 The chief priests therefore and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, “What are we doing? For this man does many signs. If we leave him alone like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”
- John 12:19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “See how you accomplish nothing. Behold, the world has gone after him.”
- Acts 2:12 They were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”
- Acts 4:16-17 saying, “What shall we do to these men? Because indeed a notable miracle has been done through them, as can be plainly seen by all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we can’t deny it. But so that this spreads no further among the people, let’s threaten them, that from now on they don’t speak to anyone in this name.”
- Acts 4:21 When they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people; for everyone glorified God for that which was done.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (14 sources)
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John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 24 Now when the high priest and the captain…
24 Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.
Ver. 24. They doubted of them] Conturbabantur, et ad angustias inexplicabiles detrusi haesitabant, they were at their wit’s end, διηπορουν, and could not tell what in the world to do with them. Herod was troubled in like sort, Luk 9:7. So was Diocletian, who therefore laid down the empire, because he could not conquer the Christians, merely out of discontent; so did Charles V
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain The captain of the temple; the commander over the…
The captain of the temple; the commander over the soldiers who were set to guard the temple, either to secure the treasure there, or to be in a readiness to suppress any tumult thereabouts; Pilate speaks of this, Mat 27:65.
The chief priests; the heads of the families, or chief of the courses of the priests.
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They doubted of them; by what means these wonderful things were done; for they were loth to see and acknowledge God in them.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain Then came one and told them, saying,.... Who this…
Then came one and told them, saying,.... Who this man was, is of no consequence to know; it can hardly be thought that he was one of the number of the disciples, or a member of the church, or a professor of the Christian religion; but rather an enemy, and one that sought his own interest, and to obtain the favour and affection of the chief priests and elders, and therefore very officiously came to them, and reported as follows:
behold, the men whom ye put in prison, last night,
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are standing in the temple; openly and publicly, and without fear;
and teaching the people; in the name of Jesus, which the sanhedrim had forbid them to do.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain They doubted what this should be - They were…
They doubted what this should be - They were even at their wit's end. The world, in persecuting the children of God, entangle themselves in numberless difficulties.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 24. They doubted of them whereunto this would…
Verse 24. They doubted of them whereunto this would grow.] They did not know what to think of the apostles, whether they had saved themselves by magic, or whether they were delivered by a real miracle; and they were at a loss to tell what the issue of these things would be.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain Act 5:24-25. When the high-priest, &c., heard these things…
Act 5:24-25. When the high-priest, &c., heard these things — So perfectly unexpected; they doubted of them — They were extremely perplexed, and even at their wit’s end, having never been so disappointed before of a thing they were so sure of. They doubted, τι αν γενοιτο τουτο, what this thing might be — That is, whether they had procured their liberty by corrupting the keepers, or whether there might not be something miraculous in the deliverance of persons, whom such extraordinary circumstances had attended; and in that case, what this affair might import, and what the issue of it might be. Thus the world, in persecuting the children of God, entangle themselves in numberless difficulties. Then came one — Who knew their disappointment, and the uneasiness it gave them; saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison — And have commanded to be brought to your bar; are standing in the temple — Here, however they came thither; and teaching the people — With as much freedom and confidence as ever. Now this confounded them more than any thing. Prisoners, who had broken prison, used to abscond for fear of being retaken; but these prisoners, after they had made their escape, durst show their faces even there where their prosecutors had the greatest influence.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain The captain of the temple - See the notes…
The captain of the temple - See the notes on Act 4:1.
Doubted of them - They were in “perplexity” about these things. The word rendered “doubted” denotes “that state of anxiety which arises when a person has lost his way, or when he does not know what to do to escape from a difficulty.” See Luk 9:7.
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Whereunto this would grow - What this “would be”; or, what would be the result or end of these events. For:
Their authority was disregarded. God had opposed them by a miracle.
(3)The doctrines of the apostles were gaining ground.
(4)Their efforts to resist them had been in vain. They need “not” have doubted; but sinners are not disposed to be convinced of the truth of religion.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain they doubted--"were in perplexity."
they doubted--"were in perplexity."
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 24. Captain of the temple—The Jewish commandant over the…
24. Captain of the temple—The Jewish commandant over the Jewish police guard who kept order on the temple grounds.
Chief priests—The heads of the priestly courses and priests who were relatives of the high priest.
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Whereunto this would grow—Literally, what it might become.
The matter had already assumed a very supernatural shape; these men were reputed as possessing miraculous powers; and truly, if prison doors could not hold them how was it possible to manage their case?
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 24. Now when the high priest and the captain…
24. Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple] The best MSS. have only Now when the captain of the temple. The word which in the A. V. is rendered high priest is simply = priest, but the like usage is common enough in Hebrew.
On the captain of the temple, see Act_4:1; and on chief priests, Act_4:23.
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heard these things] Better, these words. It refers simply to the report which the officers had just brought back.
they doubted of them whereunto this would grow] i.e. they were at a loss about what was said, and did not know what step to take next. It is worthy of notice that when the Apostles are brought before them in the end, the magistrates avoid all questions about how they had been released. They clearly wished to have no more testimony to the supernatural powers which had been so often manifested in connection with Jesus and His followers. Caiaphas and his party could not be ignorant how Jesus Himself had risen out of His grave to the great terror of the Jewish guard set over it. With the opinions these authorities held, we can quite understand their perplexity and their silence on the subject, at all events before the disciples and the multitude.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (24) The high priest.—The Received text gives “the priest,”…
(24) The high priest.—The Received text gives “the priest,” but the use of that word as meaning the high priest has no parallel in the New Testament, and the word is omitted by many of the best MSS.
The captain of the temple.—The commander of the Levite sentinels. (See Notes on Act_4:1; Luk_22:52.)
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Whereunto this would grow.—Literally, what it might become, or, possibly, what it might be. They do not seem to have recognised at once the supernatural character of what had taken place, and may have conjectured that the Apostles had by some human help effected their escape.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain The captain of the temple for the high priest…
The captain of the temple for the high priest and the captain, etc., A.V and T.R.; words for things, A.V.; were much perplexed concerning them for doubted of them, A.V. The captain of the temple, etc. Meyer, followed by Alford, retains the T.R., in which the word for the high priest is oJ iJereuv. It is true that this word occurs nowhere else in the New Testament for "the high priest." But in the Old Testament heko is very frequently used to designate the high priest, as Exo_29:30 Exo_35:19; Num_3:32; 2Ch_22:11; 2Ki_22:10 1Ki_1:8, etc.; and in such places is represented by iJereuv in the LXX So that St. Luke may very probably have used it here where the context made the meaning clear, and where he intended to use the word ajrciereiv for "the chief priests." For the captain, see above. (Act_4:1, note) He was especially interested as being, probably, the officer who had arrested the apostles the day before. Were much perplexed concerning. The verb (diaporew), which only occurs in the New Testament here and Act_2:12, Act_10:17, Luk_9:7, and (in the middle voice) Luk_24:4, means properly "to be in doubt which road to take," hence generally to be in doubt, perplexity. Them may apply either to the words, the strange things just reported to them, or to the apostles about whom the things were reported. It seems most natural to refer it to the words. They were in doubt and perplexity as to what it would all grow to.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
J. W. McGarvey 1914 · Public Domain 24-26. The startling announcement was not without serious effect…
24-26. The startling announcement was not without serious effect even upon the stubborn Sadducees. They were staggered by it, and knew not at first what to do or think. (24) " Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple, and the chief priest heard these words, they were perplexed concerning them, what this might come to. (25) But some one came and announced to them, Behold, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people. " This announcement relieved the perplexity of the Sanhedrim, by enabling them to proceed with business, and relieving them from the unpleasant necessity of dispersing without a good excuse. They now dispatch a more honorable guard after the apostles than they had, at first; for the captain of the temple himself takes command. (26) " Then the captain went with the officers, and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. " The clause, "lest they should be stone," is so arranged as to furnish a reason for both the preceding statements, that they " feared the people," and that they "brought them without violence. " The enthusiasm of the people had been much increased, no doubt, by the angelic deliverance, which was by this time well known about the temple.
J. W. McGarvey (with Philip Y. Pendleton), Commentaries on the New Testament (The Fourfold Gospel, 1914; Acts; and the epistles) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 General Information:
General Information:
Here the word "you" is plural and refers to the captain of the temple and the chief priests. (See: Forms of You)
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they were much perplexed
"they were very puzzled" or "they were very confused"
concerning them
"concerning the words they had just heard" or "concerning these things"
what would come of it
"and what would happen as a result"
standing in the temple
They did not go into the part of the temple building where only the priests were allowed. AT: "standing in the temple courtyard" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
translationWords
temple
chief priests
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.