Acts 5:40 (KJV)

What does Acts 5:40 mean?

Acts 5:40 describes how the Jewish council agreed to a plan, summoned the apostles, had them beaten, and then ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus before releasing them. The verse shows the council’s attempt to stop the apostles’ teaching about Jesus through physical punishment and strict warning.

The setting is the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council in Jerusalem, responding to the apostles’ public preaching about Jesus. After a discussion led by Gamaliel, the council decides not to execute the apostles but instead punishes them with a beating and a command to stop speaking about Jesus. This verse highlights both the opposition the early Christians faced and the authorities’ determination to suppress the message about Jesus.

The Greek behind Acts 5:40

• The word for “beaten” is ἐδείραντο (edeiran), which often means to flog or whip. This was a serious physical punishment, not just a warning, showing the council’s willingness to use violence to intimidate.
• The phrase “commanded that they should not speak” uses the Greek παραγγείλαντες (parangeilantes, “commanded”) and λαλεῖν (lalein, “to speak”). The command is direct and forceful, emphasizing the council’s intent to silence any public mention of Jesus’ name.
• The word for “name” is ὄνομα (onoma), which in this context means more than just a label—it refers to the authority and reputation of Jesus. The council is not just forbidding talk about a person, but about everything Jesus represents.

Why Acts 5:40 matters

• Acts 5:40 clarifies that the early opposition to Christianity was not just verbal or social but included real physical suffering for the apostles.
• The verse connects to the wider passage by showing the outcome of Gamaliel’s advice: the apostles are spared execution but still punished, highlighting both mercy and hostility.
• This verse helps readers see how the apostles’ message about Jesus was seen as a real threat by the authorities, leading to repeated efforts to silence them.