Acts 5 · Verse 40

Acts 5:40

And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
Acts 5:40, King James Version

Acts 5:40 in other translations

BSBAt this, they yielded to Gamaliel. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them.
WEBThey agreed with him. Summoning the apostles, they beat them and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
ASVAnd to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles unto them, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
YLTAnd to him they agreed, and having called near the apostles, having beaten them, they commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go;
DARBYAnd they listened to his advice; and having called the apostles, they beat them, and enjoined them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and dismissed them.
BBEAnd he seemed to them to be right: and they sent for the Apostles, and, after having them whipped and giving them orders to give no teaching in the name of Jesus, they let them go.
WebsterAnd to him they assented: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

What does Acts 5:40 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 5:40-42
40-42. beaten them--for disobeying their orders (compare Lu 23:16).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 40. And to him they agreed. Greek, They were persuaded by him; or they trusted to him. They agreed only so far as their design of putting them to death was concerned. They abandoned that design. But they did not comply with his advice to let them entirely alone.

And beaten them. The usual amount of lashes which were inflicted on offenders was thirty-nine, 2Cor 11:24. Beating, or whipping, was a common mode of punishing minor offences among the Jews. It was expressly foretold by the Saviour that the apostles would be subjected to this, Mt 10:17. The reason why they did not adopt the advice of Gamaliel altogether, doubtless was, that if they did, they feared that their authority would be despised by the people. They had commanded them not to preach; they had threatened them, (Acts 4:18, 5:28;) they had imprisoned them, (Acts 5:18;) and now, if they suffered them to go without even the appearance of punishment, their authority, they feared, would be despised by the nation, and it would be supposed that the apostles had triumphed over the sanhedrim. It is probable, also, that they were so indignant, that they could not suffer them to go without the gratification of subjecting them to the public odium of a whipping. Men, if they cannot accomplish their full purposes of malignity against the gospel, will take up with even some petty annoyance and malignity, rather than let it alone.

(a) "beaten them" Mt 10:17 (b) "commanded" Acts 4:18

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 40 To him they agreed - That is, not to slay the apostles, nor to attempt any farther to imprison them; but their malevolence could not be thus easily satisfied; and therefore they beat them - probably gave each of them thirty-nine stripes; and, having commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, they let them go. It was of Jesus they were afraid: not of the apostles. They plainly saw that, if the doctrine of Christ was preached, it must prevail; and, if it prevailed, they must come to nought. It was a wise saying of the popish bishops in the time of Queen Mary - If we do not put down this Printing, it will put us down: They labored to put down the printing, but they could not; and, under God, the printing, by exposing the wickedness of their doctrine and practices, and especially by multiplying copies of the New Testament, did most effectually put them down.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 5:34-42

The Lord still has all hearts in his hands, and sometimes directs the prudence of the worldly wise, so as to restrain the persecutors. Common sense tells us to be cautious, while experience and observation show that the success of frauds in matters of religion has been very short. Reproach for Christ is true preferment, as it makes us conformable to his pattern, and serviceable to his interest. They rejoiced in it…

Read the full comment on Acts 5:34-42 →

Acts 5:40 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.

καὶkaiandG2532
προσκαλεσάμενοιproskalesamenoihaving called inG4341
τοὺςtoustheG3588
ἀποστόλουςapostolousapostlesG652
δείραντεςdeiranteshaving beatenG1194
παρήγγειλανparēngeilanthey commanded [them]G3853
μὴmēnotG3361
λαλεῖνlaleinto speakG2980
ἐπὶepiinG1909
τῷtōtheG3588
ὀνόματιonomatinameG3686
τοῦtou<the>G3588
ἸησοῦIēsouof JesusG2424
καὶkaiandG2532
ἀπέλυσανapelusanreleasedG630

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

Cross references for Acts 5:40

  • Matthew 10:17

    But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;

  • 2 Corinthians 11:24

    Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

  • Acts 4:17-21

    But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. …

  • John 19:1-4

    Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands. Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.

  • Mark 13:9

    But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.

  • Acts 5:28

    Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.

  • Proverbs 12:10

    A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

  • Micah 2:6

    Prophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy: they shall not prophesy to them, that they shall not take shame.

  • Luke 20:10

    And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty.

  • Amos 2:12

    But ye gave the Nazarites wine to drink; and commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not.

  • Isaiah 30:10

    Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:

  • Matthew 23:34

    Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
when.
4:18
beaten.
Pr 12:10; Mt 10:17; 23:34; Mr 13:9; Lu 20:10; Joh 19:1-4; 2Co 11:24
they commanded.
28; 4:17-21; Isa 30:10; Am 2:12; Mic 2:6

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

Context

  • Acts 5:39

    But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

  • Acts 5:40

    And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

  • Acts 5:41

    And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

Read all of Acts 5

Acts 5:40 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y convinieron con él: y llamando á los apóstoles, después de azotados, les intimaron que no hablasen en el nombre de Jesús, y soltáronlos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et ils furent de son avis. Et ayant appelé les apôtres, ils leur enjoignirent, après les avoir battus, de ne pas parler au nom de Jésus, et les relâchèrent.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und sie gaben ihm Gehör; und als sie die Apostel herbeigerufen hatten, schlugen sie sie und geboten ihnen, nicht in dem Namen Jesu zu reden, und entließen sie.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et convocantes Apostolos, cæsis denuntiaverunt ne omnino loquerentur in nomine Jesu, et dimiserunt eos.