Act 5:17-41 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Acts 5:17-40: 5:17-40 The success of the apostles’ ministry again aroused strong opposition (cp. 4:1-3 ). The wealthy and powerful Sadducees controlled the Temple establishment and had a Temple police force at their disposal. They opposed belief in the resurrection and were determined not to allow the apostles to proclaim their message about the resurrection of Jesus unchallenged. They also sensed that their hold on the Jewish people was loosening, so, filled with jealousy , they attacked the apostles.

Summary for Acts 5:17-40: 5:17-40 ^a The success of the apostles’ ministry again aroused strong opposition (cp. 4:1-3 ^b). The wealthy and powerful Sadducees controlled the Temple establishment and had a Temple police force at their disposal. They opposed belief in the resurrection and were determined not to allow the apostles to proclaim their message about the resurrection of Jesus unchallenged. They also sensed that their hold on the Jewish people was loosening, so, filled with jealousy, they attacked the apostles.
Summary for Acts 5:19-20: 5:19-20 ^c The irony here is that the Sadducees denied the existence of angels (23:8 ^d). Angels frequently intervened in Acts (see also 10:3 ^e, 7 ^f, 22 ^g; 11:13 ^h; 12:6-11 ⁱ, 23 ^j; 27:23-24 ^k). Luke presents God as guiding his people in their ministry, using angels to accomplish his purpose.
5:29 ^l See study note on 4:19-20.
Summary for Acts 5:30-32: 5:30-32 ^m We are witnesses of these things: The apostles, as witnesses, were required to testify to what they had seen and heard (see Lev 5:1 ⁿ; cp. Acts 1:8 ^o; Matt 28:18-20 ^p; Luke 24:44-49 ^q; John 20:21 ^r).
Summary for Acts 5:33-40: 5:33-40 ^s God once again thwarted the Jewish leaders’ plans to stop the apostles—this time through the counsel of Gamaliel.
5:34 ^t Gamaliel was an eminent Pharisee, a leader in the Jewish high council, and a famous teacher of the law. He was Paul’s teacher during his rabbinical education (see 22:3 ^u).
Summary for Acts 5:36-37: 5:36-37 ^v This Theudas is otherwise unknown, although Josephus mentions a different man by that name who raised a revolt some years later (see Josephus, Antiquities 20.5.1). Theudas was a common Jewish name.

• Judas of Galilee appears in Josephus as a rebel who opposed giving tribute to Caesar about AD 6 or 7, following the census of Quirinius (see Josephus, Antiquities 20.5.2; cp. Luke 2:2 ^w). His resistance, too, was crushed.