Acts 5:17 Meaning and Explanation
“Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The high priest rises up with his allies of the sect of the Sadducees, filled with indignation at the apostles.
What Does Acts 5:17 Mean?
The Sadducees were the priestly aristocracy who controlled the temple and denied any resurrection (Acts 23:8). Every healed body and every sermon about the risen Jesus struck at both their doctrine and their standing with the people, and now their patience breaks.
Luke's word for 'indignation' is literally jealousy or zeal, the burning of a threatened heart. The contrast is deliberate: one company is filled with the Spirit, the other with envy. Fruitful faith has always drawn opposition, as Jesus promised it would (John 15:20), and blessing and hostility often grow up together.
Acts 5:17 in the Original Language
zelos (ζῆλος), 'indignation' -- zeal or jealousy; the burning heat of a threatened heart.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 5:17
What does Acts 5:17 mean?
The high priest rises up with his allies of the sect of the Sadducees, filled with indignation at the apostles.