Acts 5:21 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →At daybreak the apostles obey and teach in the temple, while the high priest assembles the full council and sends for prisoners who are no longer there.
What Does Acts 5:21 Mean?
Luke sets two scenes side by side. In the early light the apostles are already teaching, prompt and exact in their obedience. Meanwhile the high priest convenes the council and all the senate of Israel in formal session, unaware that God has already emptied their prison.
Obedience did not wait for a safer hour; 'early in the morning' is the apostles' answer to danger. The solemn machinery of human authority gathers in full dress to oppose a work God has quietly undone overnight. The verse leaves a simple question with the reader: when God says go, how quickly do we rise?
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 5:21
What does Acts 5:21 mean?
At daybreak the apostles obey and teach in the temple, while the high priest assembles the full council and sends for prisoners who are no longer there.