The Meaning of Acts 5:22 Explained

Acts 5:22

KJV: But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,

YLT: and the officers having come, did not find them in the prison, and having turned back, they told,

Darby: And when the officers were come, they did not find them in the prison; and returned and reported

ASV: But the officers that came found them not in the prison; and they returned, and told,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But  when the officers  came,  and found  them  not  in  the prison,  they returned,  and  told, 

What does Acts 5:22 Mean?

Context Summary

Acts 5:12-26 - Delivered To Testify
While the Holy Spirit works mightily within the Church, He co-operates with it in its outward operations by adding men and women to the Lord. None should be added to the Church roll who have not already been led into living union with Jesus. Through the Church, as His body, the risen Savior works such miracles as are here narrated, filling the hearts of the humble with love and joy, and exciting inveterate hatred in His foes.
The angel of God comes to open prison doors. Are you in sore trouble, from which there is no apparent deliverance? Are you imprisoned in the dungeon of doubt and black despair? Are you being heavily persecuted? Oh, wrap around you the divine protection! Dare to believe that the doors will open as by unseen hands. Nothing can stay the purposes of God. Only use your God-given liberty to go forth to teach the people. The gospel is a message to the people. Let us preach to the hungry, needy crowds. Philosophers, scientists, the wise and prudent of the age, may mock, but the people know the gospel when they hear it. Let us give it to them! [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 5

1  After that Ananias and Sapphira his wife,
3  at Peter's rebuke had fallen down dead;
12  and that the rest of the apostles had wrought many miracles;
14  to the increase of the faith;
17  the apostles are again imprisoned;
19  but delivered by an angel bidding them preach openly to all;
21  when, after their teaching accordingly in the temple,
29  and before the council,
33  they are in danger to be killed;
34  but through the advice of Gamaliel, they are kept alive, and are only beaten;
41  for which they glorify God, and cease no day from preaching

Greek Commentary for Acts 5:22

The officers [οι υπηρεται]
Under-rowers, literally (Matthew 5:25). The servants or officers who executed the orders of the Sanhedrin. [source]
Shut [κεκλεισμενον]
Perfect passive participle of κλειω — kleiō Shut tight. Standing at the doors (εστωτας επι των τυρων — hestōtas epi tōn thurōn). Graphic picture of the sentinels at the prison doors. [source]
Standing at the doors [εστωτας επι των τυρων]
Graphic picture of the sentinels at the prison doors. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 5:22

John 7:32 The Pharisees [οι Παρισαιοι]
This group of the Jewish rulers (John 7:11, John 7:15, John 7:25.) was particularly hostile to Christ, though already the Sadducees had become critical (Matthew 16:6) and they join here First aorist active indicative of ακουω — akouō with the genitive case and the descriptive participle of the vivid onomatopoetic verb γογγυζω — gogguzō (John 7:12) now grown louder like the hum of bees. It was the defense of Jesus by a portion of the crowd (John 7:31) that irritated the Pharisees. Here the Pharisees take the initiative and enlist the Sadducees in the Sanhedrin (for this combination see John 7:45; John 11:47, John 11:57; Matthew 21:45; Matthew 27:62, the organized court) to send “officers” For υπηρετας — hupēretas (temple police here) see John 7:45; John 18:3, John 18:12, John 18:22; John 19:6; Acts 5:22, Acts 5:26. For the word see Matthew 5:25; Luke 1:2, “an under rower” (υπο ερετης — hupo class="translit"> eretēs), any assistant. [source]
Acts 5:21 Taught [εδιδασκον]
Imperfect active, began to teach. The council (το συνεδριον — to sunedrion). The Sanhedrin. The senate From γερων — gerōn an old man, just as the Latin senatus is from senex, old. Like the γεροντες — gerontes in Homer and the Elder Statesmen in Japan. Apparently the senate of the people were also part of the Sanhedrin and the use of “and” See also Acts 5:22, Acts 5:23, Acts 5:25. This from δεσμος — desmos bond, and τηρεω — tēreō to keep, place where bound men are kept. [source]
Acts 5:21 The senate [την γερουσιαν]
From γερων — gerōn an old man, just as the Latin senatus is from senex, old. Like the γεροντες — gerontes in Homer and the Elder Statesmen in Japan. Apparently the senate of the people were also part of the Sanhedrin and the use of “and” See also Acts 5:22, Acts 5:23, Acts 5:25. This from δεσμος — desmos bond, and τηρεω — tēreō to keep, place where bound men are kept. [source]
Acts 5:21 To the prison house [εις το δεσμωτηριον]
See also Acts 5:22, Acts 5:23, Acts 5:25. This from δεσμος — desmos bond, and τηρεω — tēreō to keep, place where bound men are kept. [source]
Romans 1:8 Is proclaimed [καταγγέλλεται]
The different compounds of the simple verb ἀγγέλλω toannounce, are interesting. The simple verb occurs only at John 20:18. Ἁναγγέλλειν is to report with the additional idea of bringing tidings up to or back to the person receiving them. So John 5:15. The impotent man brought back information to the Jews. Compare Mark 5:14. So Christ will send the Comforter, and He will bring back to the disciples tidings of things to come. John 16:13-15. See Acts 14:27; 2 Corinthians 7:7; 1 Peter 1:12. Ἁπαγγέλλειν is to announce with a reference to the source from ( ἀπό ) which the message comes So Matthew 2:8; Acts 12:14. Compare Luke 7:22; Luke 8:34, Acts 5:22. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
Καταγγέλλειν is to proclaim with authority, as commissioned to spread the tidings throughout, down among those that hear them, with the included idea of celebrating or commending. So here. Compare Acts 16:21; Acts 17:3. Thus in ἀναγγέλλειν therecipient of the news is contemplated; in ἀπαγγέλλειν thesource; in καταγγέλλειν the relation of the bearer and hearer of the message. The first is found mostly in John, Mark, and Acts; the second in the Synoptists and Acts; the third only. in the Acts and Paul. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 5:22 mean?

- And having come [the] officers not did find them in the prison having returned then they reported back
οἱ δὲ παραγενόμενοι ὑπηρέται οὐχ εὗρον αὐτοὺς ἐν τῇ φυλακῇ ἀναστρέψαντες δὲ ἀπήγγειλαν

οἱ  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
παραγενόμενοι  having  come 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Middle, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: παραγίνομαι  
Sense: to be present, to come near, approach.
ὑπηρέται  [the]  officers 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ὑπηρέτης  
Sense: servant.
εὗρον  did  find 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: εὑρίσκω  
Sense: to come upon, hit upon, to meet with.
φυλακῇ  prison 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: φυλακή  
Sense: guard, watch.
ἀναστρέψαντες  having  returned 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀναστρέφω  
Sense: to turn upside down, overturn.
ἀπήγγειλαν  they  reported  back 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἀγγέλλω 
Sense: to bring tidings (from a person or a thing), bring word, report.

What are the major concepts related to Acts 5:22?

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