Acts 5 · Verse 20

Acts 5:20

Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
Acts 5:20, King James Version

Acts 5:20 in other translations

BSB“Go, stand in the temple courts and tell the people the full message of this new life.”
WEB“Go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.”
ASVGo ye, and stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this Life.
YLT‘Go on, and standing, speak in the temple to the people all the sayings of this life;'
DARBYGo ye and stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
BBEGo, take your place in the Temple and give the people all the teaching about this Life.
WebsterGo, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

What does Acts 5:20 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 5:17-23

17-23. sect of the Sadducees--See on Ac 4:1 for the reason why this is specified.

Read the full comment on Acts 5:17-23 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 20. In the temple. In a public and conspicuous place. In this way there would be a most striking exhibition of their boldness; a proof that God had delivered them; and a manifestation of their purpose to obey God rather than man.

All the words. All the doctrines. Comp. Jn 6:68, "Thou hast the words of eternal life."

Of this life. Pertaining to life, to the eternal life which they taught through the resurrection and life of Jesus. The word life is used sometimes to express the whole of religion, as opposed to the spiritual death of sin. See Jn 1:4, 3:36. Their deliverance from prison was not that they might be idle, and escape to a place of safety. Again they were to engage at once in the toils and perils which they had just before encountered. God delivers us from danger sometimes, that we may plunge into new dangers; he preserves us from calamity, that we may be tried in some new furnace of affliction; and he calls us to encounter trials simply because he demands it, and as an expression of gratitude to him for his gracious interposition.

(e) "all the words" Ex 24:3 (f) "of this life" Jn 6:63,68, 17:8

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 20 All the words of this life - All the doctrines of life eternal, founded on the word, death, and resurrection of Christ Jesus. This is another periphrasis for Gospel. Go to the temple - the most public place, and speak to the people - who come there to worship according to the law, the words of this life - the whole doctrine of salvation from sin and death; and show that the law is fulfilled in the sacrifice of Jesus, and that, by his resurrection, he has brought life and immortality to light.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 5:17-25

There is no prison so dark, so strong, but God can visit his people in it, and, if he pleases, fetch them out. Recoveries from sickness, releases out of trouble, are granted, not that we may enjoy the comforts of life, but that God may be honoured with the services of our life. It is not for the preachers of Christ's gospel to retire into corners, as long as they can have any opportunity of preaching in the great…

Read the full comment on Acts 5:17-25 →

Acts 5:20 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

πορεύεσθεporeuesthedo goG4198
καὶkaiandG2532
σταθέντεςstathenteshaving stoodG2476
λαλεῖτεlaleitedo speakG2980
ἐνeninG1722
τῷtōtheG3588
ἱερῷhi'erōtempleG2411
τῷtōto theG3588
λαῷlaōpeopleG2992
πάνταpantaallG3956
τὰtatheG3588
ῥήματαrhēmatadeclarationsG4487
τῆςtēsof theG3588
ζωῆςzōēslifeG2222
ταύτης.tautēsthis.G3778

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 5:20

  • John 6:63

    It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

  • John 6:68

    Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

  • 1 John 5:11-12

    And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

  • 1 John 1:1-3

    That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

  • Matthew 21:23

    And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?

  • John 12:50

    And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

  • John 17:3

    And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

  • Jeremiah 36:10

    Then read Baruch in the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of the Lord, in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the higher court, at the entry of the new gate of the Lord’s house, in the ears of all the people.

  • John 18:20

    Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.

  • Acts 11:14

    Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.

  • Isaiah 58:1

    Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

  • Jeremiah 22:1-2

    Thus saith the Lord; Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and speak there this word, And say, Hear the word of the Lord, O king of Judah, that sittest upon the throne of David, thou, and thy servants, and thy people that enter in by these gates:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
stand.
Isa 58:1; Jer 7:2; 19:14,15; 20:2,3; 22:1,2; 26:2; 36:10; Mt 21:23
Joh 18:20
all.
11:14; Ex 24:3; Joh 6:63,68; 12:50; 17:3,8; 1Jo 1:1-3; 5:11,12

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 5:19

    But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,

  • Acts 5:20

    Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

  • Acts 5:21

    And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

Read all of Acts 5

Acts 5:20 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Id, y estando en el templo, hablad al pueblo todas las palabras de esta vida.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Allez, et, vous tenant dans le temple, annoncez au peuple toutes les paroles de cette vie.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Gehet und stellet euch hin und redet in dem Tempel zu dem Volke alle Worte dieses Lebens!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Ite, et stantes loquimini in templo plebi omnia verba vitæ hujus.