Now when the high priest and those who were with him arrived, they summoned the Sanhedrin 9 – that is, the whole high council 10 of the Israelites 11 – and sent to the jail to have the apostles 12 brought before them. 13 5:22 But the officers 14 who came for them 15 did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, 16 5:23 “We found the jail locked securely and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, 17 we found no one inside.” 5:24 Now when the commander 18 of the temple guard 19 and the chief priests heard this report, 20 they were greatly puzzled concerning it, 21 wondering what this could 22 be.
1 tn Or “the angel of the Lord.” Linguistically, “angel of the Lord” is the same in both testaments (and thus, he is either “an angel of the Lord” or “the angel of the Lord” in both testaments). For arguments and implications, see ExSyn 252; M. J. Davidson, “Angels,” DJG, 9; W. G. MacDonald argues for “an angel” in both testaments: “Christology and ‘The Angel of the Lord’,” Current Issues in Biblical and Patristic Interpretation, 324-35.
2 tn Grk “opening the doors of the prison.” The participle ἀνοίξας (anoixa") has been translated as a finite verb due to the requirements of contemporary English style.
3 tn Greek φυλακῆς (fulakh"), a different word from the one in v. 18 (τήρησις, thrhsi", “jail”).
4 tn Or “brought them out.” Grk “and leading them out, said.” The participle ἐξαγαγών (exagagwn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
5 tn Grk “the temple.” This is actually a reference to the courts surrounding the temple proper, and has been translated accordingly.
6 tn Or “speak.”
7 tn Grk “the temple.” See the note on the same phrase in the preceding verse.
8 tn The imperfect verb ἐδίδασκον (edidaskon) has been translated as an ingressive imperfect.
9 tn Or “the council” (the highest legal, legislative, and judicial body among the Jews).
10 tn A hendiadys (two different terms referring to a single thing) is likely here (a reference to a single legislative body rather than two separate ones) because the term γερουσίαν (gerousian) is used in both 1 Macc 12:6 and Josephus, Ant. 13.5.8 (13.166) to refer to the Sanhedrin.
11 tn Grk “sons of Israel.”
12 tn Grk “have them”; the referent (the apostles) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
13 tn The words “before them” are not in the Greek text but are implied.
14 tn The Greek term ὑπηρέτης (Juphreth") generally means “servant,” but in the NT is used for many different types of servants, like attendants to a king, the officers of the Sanhedrin (as here), assistants to magistrates, and (especially in the Gospel of John) Jewish guards in the Jerusalem temple (see L&N 35.20).
15 tn The words “for them” are not in the Greek text but are implied.
16 tn Grk “reported, saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in English and has not been translated.
17 tn The word “them” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects in Greek were often omitted when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.
18 tn Or “captain.”
19 tn Grk “the official of the temple,” a title for the commander of the Jewish soldiers guarding the temple (thus the translation, “the commander of the temple guard”). See L&N 37.91.
20 tn Grk “heard these words.”
21 tn Grk “concerning them,” agreeing with the plural antecedent “these words.” Since the phrase “these words” was translated as the singular “this report,” the singular “concerning it” is used here.
22 tn The optative verb here expresses confused uncertainty.