Exposition of Acts 5:27-42
TEXT: ACTS 5:27-42
TOPIC: Exposition of Acts 5:27-42
Pastor Bobby Earls, First Baptist Church, Center Point
July 9, 2008
Acts 5:28 - The Sanhedrin had apparently forgotten the brash statement its supporters had made before Pilate that the responsibility for Jesus’ death should be on them and their children (Matt. 27:25).[1]
Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified
24 So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that za riot was beginning, he took water and awashed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of bthis man’s blood;2 csee to it yourselves.” 25 And all the people answered, d“His blood be on us and eon our children!”
[2]
Acts 5:29 - The apostles were obeying what their Lord and Master had told them to do. Believers are commanded to obey civil authority—except when it comes in conflict with the commandment of God.[3]
Acts 5:31 - Prince of life. The Gr. word for “prince” means originator, pioneer, or beginner of something. Both Heb. 2:10 and 12:2 translate it “author.” It describes Jesus as the Divine Originator of life [4] In Acts 3:15 Peter had earlier preached “and you killed jthe Author of life, kwhom God raised from the dead. [5]
Also in Acts 5:31, “and Savior” (Prince and cSavior, dto give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.[6])
The concept of the salvation in his name was at the very heart of his previous witness before the Sanhedrin (cf. 4:12). Here as there Peter’s purpose was the same—to demonstrate that Christ is indeed the risen Savior and to urge repentance and commitment to his name. Peter was issuing an invitation to the Sanhedrin. They had indeed sinned in hanging Jesus on the cross, but there is forgiveness and salvation for Israel in him. If they needed further proof that he is their deliverer, risen and exalted to God’s right hand, the apostles could bear eyewitness testimony to these realities (v. 32)[7]
Acts 5:31–32 - This is still the message to the nation Israel in Jerusalem today. [8]
Acts 5:33–34 The Jewish leaders were not the least inclined to respond to Peter’s appeal. Their reaction was quite the opposite. They were infuriated (lit., “sawn in two”). Some called for the death penalty, undoubtedly the Sadducees on the Council. [9]
Acts 5:34 - Gamaliel. Like his grandfather, the prominent rabbi Hillel, Gamaliel the most noted rabbi of his time, led the liberal faction of the Pharisees. His most famous student was the Apostle Paul (22:3).[10]
5:36 Theudas. An otherwise unknown individual who led a revolt in Judea in the early years of the first century,[11]
Acts 5:37 - Judas of Galilee rose up. The founder of the Zealots who led another revolt in Palestine early in the first century. Zealots, a party of Jews who were fanatical nationalists, believed that radical action was required to overthrow the Roman power in Palestine. They even sought to take up arms against Rome.[12]
Acts 5:40 beaten them. The apostles were unjustly flogged, probably with 39 lashes, the standard number given to avoid exceeding the OT legal limit of 40 [13]
Acts 5:42 - They continued to teach and to preach Jesus Christ. What is the gospel? It is a Person! It is Jesus Christ.[14]
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[1]MacArthur, John Jr: The MacArthur Study Bible. electronic ed. Nashville : Word Pub., 1997, c1997, S. Ac 5:28
z ch. 26:5
a [Deut. 21:6–8; Ps. 26:6; 73:13]
b ver. 19
2 Some manuscripts this righteous blood, or this righteous man’s blood
c ver. 4
d [ch. 23:35, 36; Josh. 2:19; Acts 5:28]
e [Ex. 20:5; Lam. 5:7]
[2] The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001, S. Mt 27:24-25
[3]McGee, J. Vernon: Thru the Bible Commentary. electronic ed. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1981, S. 4:533
Gr. Greek
[4]MacArthur, John Jr: The MacArthur Study Bible. electronic ed. Nashville : Word Pub., 1997, c1997, S. Ac 3:15
j ch. 5:31
k See ch. 2:24
[5] The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001, S. Ac 3:15
c Matt. 1:21
d Luke 24:47; [Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14]
[6] The New King James Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1982, S. Ac 5:31
[7]Polhill, John B.: Acts. electronic ed. Nashville : Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001, c1992 (Logos Library System; The New American Commentary 26), S. 170
[8]McGee, J. Vernon: Thru the Bible Commentary. electronic ed. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1981, S. 4:533
[9]Polhill, John B.: Acts. electronic ed. Nashville : Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001, c1992 (Logos Library System; The New American Commentary 26), S. 170
[10]MacArthur, John Jr: The MacArthur Study Bible. electronic ed. Nashville : Word Pub., 1997, c1997, S. Ac 5:34
[11]MacArthur, John Jr: The MacArthur Study Bible. electronic ed. Nashville : Word Pub., 1997, c1997, S. Ac 5:36
[12]MacArthur, John Jr: The MacArthur Study Bible. electronic ed. Nashville : Word Pub., 1997, c1997, S. Ac 5:37
[13]MacArthur, John Jr: The MacArthur Study Bible. electronic ed. Nashville : Word Pub., 1997, c1997, S. Ac 5:40
[14]McGee, J. Vernon: Thru the Bible Commentary. electronic ed. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1981, S. 4:534