King James Version

What Does Acts 5:21 Mean?

Acts 5:21 in the King James Version says “And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning , and taught. But the high priest came, and ...” — study this verse from Acts chapter 5 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“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.”

Acts 5:21 · KJV

Context

19

But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,

20

Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

21

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.

22

But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,

23

Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.

Read Acts 5 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The obedient action - 'when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught' - shows immediate compliance with angelic command despite danger. The Greek 'hypo ton orthron' (early morning) indicates dawn teaching, maximizing time and audience. Meanwhile, 'the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together' mobilized official opposition, unaware prisoners had escaped. The phrase 'all the senate of the children of Israel' (Greek 'pan to presbyterion') describes full Sanhedrin assembly, showing crisis level.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Early morning temple teaching capitalized on Jewish prayer times when crowds gathered. The Sanhedrin's full assembly (rare occurrence requiring urgency) demonstrated perceived threat level. The council 'sent to the prison to have them brought' expecting routine trial, unaware of miraculous deliverance.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does immediate obedience to divine command teach about prioritizing God's authority?
  2. How does the authorities' ignorance while apostles taught freely demonstrate God's sovereignty?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 36 words
ἀκούσαντες1 of 36

“when they heard”

G191

to hear (in various senses)

δὲ2 of 36

“And”

G1161

but, and, etc

εἰσῆλθον3 of 36

“that they entered”

G1525

to enter (literally or figuratively)

ὑπὸ4 of 36

“early in the morning”

G5259

under, i.e., (with the genitive case) of place (beneath), or with verbs (the agency or means, through); (with the accusative case) of place (whither (

τὸν5 of 36
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ὄρθρον6 of 36
G3722

dawn (as sun-rise, rising of light); by extension, morn

εἰς7 of 36

“into”

G1519

to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases

τὸ8 of 36
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ἱερὸν9 of 36

“the temple”

G2411

a sacred place, i.e., the entire precincts (whereas g3485 denotes the central sanctuary itself) of the temple (at jerusalem or elsewhere)

καὶ10 of 36

“and”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

ἐδίδασκον11 of 36

“taught”

G1321

to teach (in the same broad application)

Παραγενόμενος12 of 36

“came”

G3854

to become near, i.e., approach (have arrived); by implication, to appear publicly

δὲ13 of 36

“And”

G1161

but, and, etc

ὁ14 of 36
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ἀρχιερεὺς15 of 36

“the high priest”

G749

the high-priest (literally, of the jews; typically, christ); by extension a chief priest

καὶ16 of 36

“and”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

οἱ17 of 36
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

σὺν18 of 36

“they that were with”

G4862

with or together (but much closer than g3326 or g3844), i.e., by association, companionship, process, resemblance, possession, instrumentality, additi

αὐτούς19 of 36

“him”

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

συνεκάλεσαν20 of 36

“and called”

G4779

to convoke

τὸ21 of 36
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

συνέδριον22 of 36

“the council”

G4892

a joint session, i.e., (specially), the jewish sanhedrin; by analogy, a subordinate tribunal

καὶ23 of 36

“and”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

πᾶσαν24 of 36

“all”

G3956

all, any, every, the whole

τὴν25 of 36
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

γερουσίαν26 of 36

“the senate”

G1087

the eldership, i.e., (collectively) the jewish sanhedrin

τῶν27 of 36
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

υἱῶν28 of 36

“of the children”

G5207

a "son" (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship

Ἰσραήλ29 of 36

“of Israel”

G2474

israel (i.e., jisrael), the adopted name of jacob, including his descendants (literally or figuratively)

καὶ30 of 36

“and”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

ἀπέστειλαν31 of 36

“sent”

G649

set apart, i.e., (by implication) to send out (properly, on a mission) literally or figuratively

εἰς32 of 36

“into”

G1519

to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases

τὸ33 of 36
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

δεσμωτήριον34 of 36

“the prison”

G1201

a place of bondage, i.e., a dungeon

ἀχθῆναι35 of 36

“brought”

G71

properly, to lead; by implication, to bring, drive, (reflexively) go, (specially) pass (time), or (figuratively) induce

αὐτούς36 of 36

“him”

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Acts. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Acts 5:21 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Acts 5:21 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

John 8:2Acts 5:17Matthew 5:22Acts 5:34John 18:35Luke 21:37-38

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