7:32 The Pharisees 1 heard the crowd 2 murmuring these things about Jesus, 3 so the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers 4 to arrest him. 5
Now when the high priest and those who were with him arrived, they summoned the Sanhedrin 8 – that is, the whole high council 9 of the Israelites 10 – and sent to the jail to have the apostles 11 brought before them. 12 5:22 But the officers 13 who came for them 14 did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, 15 5:23 “We found the jail locked securely and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, 16 we found no one inside.” 5:24 Now when the commander 17 of the temple guard 18 and the chief priests heard this report, 19 they were greatly puzzled concerning it, 20 wondering what this could 21 be. 5:25 But someone came and reported to them, “Look! The men you put in prison are standing in the temple courts 22 and teaching 23 the people!” 5:26 Then the commander 24 of the temple guard 25 went with the officers 26 and brought the apostles 27 without the use of force 28 (for they were afraid of being stoned by the people). 29
5:27 When they had brought them, they stood them before the council, 30 and the high priest questioned 31 them,
1 sn See the note on Pharisees in 1:24.
2 tn Or “The common people” (as opposed to the religious authorities like the Pharisees).
3 tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
4 tn Or “servants.” The “chief priests and Pharisees” is a comprehensive term for the groups represented in the ruling council (the Sanhedrin) as in John 7:45; 18:3; Acts 5:22, 26. As “servants” or “officers” of the Sanhedrin their representatives should be distinguished from the Levites serving as temple police (perhaps John 7:30 and 44; also John 8:20; 10:39; 19:6; Acts 4:3). Even when performing “police” duties such as here, their “officers” are doing so only as part of their general tasks (see K. H. Rengstorf, TDNT 8:540).
5 tn Grk “to seize him.” In the context of a deliberate attempt by the servants of the chief priests and Pharisees to detain Jesus, the English verb “arrest” conveys the point more effectively.
6 tn Grk “the temple.” See the note on the same phrase in the preceding verse.
7 tn The imperfect verb ἐδίδασκον (edidaskon) has been translated as an ingressive imperfect.
8 tn Or “the council” (the highest legal, legislative, and judicial body among the Jews).
9 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.
10 tn Grk “sons of Israel.”
11 tn Grk “have them”; the referent (the apostles) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
12 tn The words “before them” are not in the Greek text but are implied.
13 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).
14 tn The words “for them” are not in the Greek text but are implied.
15 tn Grk “reported, saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in English and has not been translated.
16 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.
17 tn Or “captain.”
18 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.
19 tn Grk “heard these words.”
20 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.
21 tn The optative verb here expresses confused uncertainty.
22 tn Grk “the temple.” This is actually a reference to the courts surrounding the temple proper, and has been translated accordingly.
23 sn Obeying God (see v. 29), the apostles were teaching again (4:18-20; 5:20). They did so despite the risk.
24 tn Or “captain.”
25 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.
26 tn The Greek term ὑπηρέτης (Juphreth") generally means “servant,” but in the NT is used for many different types of servants. See the note on the word “officers” in v. 22.
27 tn Grk “brought them”; the referent (the apostles) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
28 tn Or “without violence.” It is clear, as well, that the apostles did not resist arrest.
29 tn Grk “for they feared lest they be stoned by the people.” The translation uses a less awkward English equivalent. This is an explanatory note by the author.
30 tn Or “the Sanhedrin” (the highest legal, legislative, and judicial body among the Jews).
31 tn Or “interrogated,” “asked.”