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Selected Verse: Acts 5:21 - King James

Verse	Translation	Text
Ac 5:21	King James	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.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
entered into the temple, &c.--How self-possessed! the indwelling Spirit raising them above fear. called . . . all the senate, &c.--an unusually general convention, though hastily summoned.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

entered into the temple, &c.--How self-possessed! the indwelling Spirit raising them above fear.

called . . . all the senate, &c.--an unusually general convention, though hastily summoned.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Early in the morning - Greek: at the break of day. Compare Luk 24:1; Joh 8:2. Called the council together - The Sanhedrin, or the Great Council of the nation. This was clearly for the purpose of "trying" the apostles for disregarding their commandments. And all the senate - Greek: "eldership." Probably these were not a part of the Sanhedrin, but were people of age and experience, who in Act 4:8; Act 25:15, are called "elders of the Jews," and who were present for the sake of counsel Canal advice in a case of emergency.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

Early in the morning - Greek: at the break of day. Compare Luk 24:1; Joh 8:2.

Called the council together - The Sanhedrin, or the Great Council of the nation. This was clearly for the purpose of "trying" the apostles for disregarding their commandments.

And all the senate - Greek: "eldership." Probably these were not a part of the Sanhedrin, but were people of age and experience, who in Act 4:8; Act 25:15, are called "elders of the Jews," and who were present for the sake of counsel Canal advice in a case of emergency.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Early in the morning (ὑπὸ τὸν ὄρθρον) Ὑπό, beneath, is often used in the sense of just about, or near. Ὄρθρον, is from ὄρνυμι, to cause to arise: the dawn. See on Luk 24:1. Render as Rev., about daybreak. Taught (ἐδίδασκον) Imperfect: began teaching. The council (συνέδριον) The Sanhedrim. The senate (γερουσίαν) From γέρων, an old man, like the Latin senatus, from senex, old. Taking on very early an official sense, the notion of age being merged in that of dignity. Thus in Homer γέροντες are the chiefs who form the king's council. Compare the Latin patres, fathers, the title used in addressing the Roman senate. The word in this passage is the name of the Spartan assembly, Gerousia, the assembly of elders, consisting of thirty members, with the two kings. "The well-known term," as Meyer remarks, "is fittingly transferred from the college of the Greek gerontes to that of the Jewish presbyters." They summoned, not only those elders of the people who were likewise members of the Sanhedrim, but the whole council (all the senate) of the representatives of the people. Prison (δεσμωτήριον) Still another word for prison. Compare Act 5:18, Act 5:19. Rev., prison-house. The different words emphasize different aspects of confinement. Τήρησις is keeping, as the result of guarding. See on Act 5:18. Φυλακή emphasizes the being put under guard, and δεσμωτήριον the being put in bonds.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]

Early in the morning (ὑπὸ τὸν ὄρθρον)

Ὑπό, beneath, is often used in the sense of just about, or near. Ὄρθρον, is from ὄρνυμι, to cause to arise: the dawn. See on Luk 24:1. Render as Rev., about daybreak.

Taught (ἐδίδασκον)

Imperfect: began teaching.

The council (συνέδριον)

The Sanhedrim.

The senate (γερουσίαν)

From γέρων, an old man, like the Latin senatus, from senex, old. Taking on very early an official sense, the notion of age being merged in that of dignity. Thus in Homer γέροντες are the chiefs who form the king's council. Compare the Latin patres, fathers, the title used in addressing the Roman senate. The word in this passage is the name of the Spartan assembly, Gerousia, the assembly of elders, consisting of thirty members, with the two kings. "The well-known term," as Meyer remarks, "is fittingly transferred from the college of the Greek gerontes to that of the Jewish presbyters." They summoned, not only those elders of the people who were likewise members of the Sanhedrim, but the whole council (all the senate) of the representatives of the people.

Prison (δεσμωτήριον)

Still another word for prison. Compare Act 5:18, Act 5:19. Rev., prison-house. The different words emphasize different aspects of confinement. Τήρησις is keeping, as the result of guarding. See on Act 5:18. Φυλακή emphasizes the being put under guard, and δεσμωτήριον the being put in bonds.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Called the council together - Συνεδριον The sanhedrin, all the senate; την γερουσιαν, the elders, or what we would call the aldermen. How these differed from the πρεσβυτεριον, presbytery, if they did differ, is not now known.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826

Called the council together - Συνεδριον The sanhedrin, all the senate; την γερουσιαν, the elders, or what we would call the aldermen. How these differed from the πρεσβυτεριον, presbytery, if they did differ, is not now known.

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