Acts 5:27

And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

5:26-33 Many will do an evil thing with daring, yet cannot bear to hear of it afterward, or to have it charged upon them. We cannot expect to be redeemed and healed by Christ, unless we give up ourselves to be ruled by him. Faith takes the Saviour in all his offices, who came, not to save us in our sins, but to save us from our sins. Had Christ been exalted to give dominion to Israel, the chief priests would have welcomed him. But repentance and remission of sins are blessings they neither valued nor saw their need of; therefore they, by no means, admitted his doctrine. Wherever repentance is wrought, remission is granted without fail. None are freed from the guilt and punishment of sin, but those who are freed from the power and dominion of sin; who are turned from it, and turned against it. Christ gives repentance, by his Spirit working with the word, to awaken the conscience, to work sorrow for sin, and an effectual change in the heart and life. The giving of the Holy Ghost, is plain evidence that it is the will of God that Christ should be obeyed. And He will surely destroy those who will not have Him to reign over them.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Without violence - Not by force; not by "binding" them. Compare Matthew 27:2. The command of the Sanhedrin was sufficient to secure their presence, as they did not intend to refuse to answer for any alleged violation of the laws. Besides, their going before the council would give them another noble opportunity to bear witness to the truth of the gospel. Christians, when charged with a violation of the laws of the land, should not refuse to answer, Acts 25:11, "If I be an offender, or have committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die." It is a part of our religion to yield obedience to all the just laws of the land, and to evince respect for all that are in authority, Romans 13:1-7.

For they feared the people - The people were favorable to the apostles. If violence had been attempted, or they had been taken in a cruel and forcible manner, the consequence would have been tumults and bloodshed. In this way, also, the apostles showed that they were not disposed to excite tumult. Opposition by them would have excited commotion; and though "they" would have been rescued, yet they resolved to show that they were not obstinate, contumacious, or rebellious, but were disposed, as far as it could be done with a clear conscience, to yield obedience to the laws of the land,

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Ac 5:27-42. Second Appearance and Testimony before the Samhedrim—Its Rage Calmed by Gamaliel—Being Dismissed, They Depart Rejoicing, and Continue Their Preaching.

27, 28. ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine—noble testimony to the success of their preaching, and (for the reason mentioned on Ac 4:4) to the truth of their testimony, from reluctant lips!

Matthew Poole's Commentary

When they are about to do the greatest injuries, they pretend to right; and will not judge them, without giving them leave to answer for themselves.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And when they had brought them,.... From the temple, to the place where the sanhedrim sat, which, by this, seems to have been not in the room Gazith, nor in the shops, which were both in the temple, but in some part of the city of Jerusalem:

they set them before the council; whereby was fulfilled what Christ had foretold, Matthew 10:17 "they will deliver you up to the councils"; they placed them before the whole sanhedrim; in the midst of it; see Gill on Acts 4:7; and as the Ethiopic version here reads:

and the high priest asked them; though he was not president of the council, but Gamaliel, after mentioned; yet being in so high an office, and a principal member of the council, took upon him the examination of the apostles.

Geneva Study Bible

And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Acts 5:27. ἔστησαν, cf. Acts 4:7, during the investigation the judges would sit, Acts 6:15, Acts 23:3, the accused, the witnesses, and those speaking, stood, Mark 14:57; Mark 14:60, Acts 4:7; Acts 5:27; Acts 5:34; Acts 6:13; Acts 23:9, O. Holtzmann, Neutestamentliche Zeitgeschichte, p. 177.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

27. And when they had brought them] i.e. to the judgment hall.

Bengel's Gnomen

Acts 5:27. Ἐπηρώτησεν, asked) expostulating with them.

Acts 5:27