Acts 5:17-24

The Apostles Imprisoned

Seeing the high regard the apostles were held in by the people and knowing the number being added to the church moved the high priest and the Sadducees to jealousy. They caused the apostles to be seized and placed in common prison. After all, the apostles, despite an earlier warning, had continued preaching in the name of Jesus. Their ongoing proclamation of the resurrection was totally contrary to the teaching of the Sadducees. But, God is more powerful than any earthly authority. He sent a messenger to release the apostles and command them to go to the temple and preach the words which give eternal life.

Around daybreak, the apostles were in the temple preaching. At roughly the same time, the high priest called for the council to assemble. Luke described the council as a senate, probably because Theophilus would have been more familiar with that word's meaning. The high priest also sent to the prison to have the apostles brought to the meeting of the assembled council. However, the officers soon came back to report they found the jail secure and all the guards in place but no apostles. Despite such a clear sign that God was with the apostles, the high priest and those allied with him wondered what would happen (Acts 5:17-24).