Acts 5:33 Meaning and Explanation
“When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The council members are cut to the heart with fury and take counsel to kill the apostles.
What Does Acts 5:33 Mean?
The same gospel that pierced hearts at Pentecost pierces hearts here, with the opposite result. There, the crowd was 'pricked in their heart' and asked what to do (Acts 2:37); here, the judges are cut through and reach for the sword.
Conviction must go somewhere. Truth that wounds can lead to repentance, or it can be answered with rage against the messenger. The difference lies not in the word preached but in the heart that receives it (Luke 8:15). When God's truth cuts, the wound is meant to drive us to the Physician, not against him (Luke 5:31).
Acts 5:33 in the Original Language
diaprio (διαπρίω), 'cut to the heart' -- literally to saw through; to be cut to the quick.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 5:33
What does Acts 5:33 mean?
The council members are cut to the heart with fury and take counsel to kill the apostles.