The Meaning of Acts 5:35 Explained

Acts 5:35

KJV: And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.

YLT: and said unto them, 'Men, Israelites, take heed to yourselves about these men, what ye are about to do,

Darby: and said to them, Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves as regards these men what ye are going to do;

ASV: And he said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves as touching these men, what ye are about to do.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  said  unto  them,  Ye men  of Israel,  take heed  to yourselves  what  ye intend  to do  as touching  these  men. 

What does Acts 5:35 Mean?

Context Summary

Acts 5:27-42 - Folly Of Fighting Against God
The high priest and his party could not forget the imprecation of Matthew 27:25. It haunted them. Compare Peter's description of the Cross as the tree with Deuteronomy 21:23 and Galatians 3:13; also his own usage of the phrase in 1 Peter 2:24. Notice in Acts 5:31 the divine order-Jesus must be Prince, if He is to be Savior. It is because that order is not observed, and men therefore seek to derive His benefits before they concede His rights, that He is unable to deliver them. Christ must be the enthroned Lord and Master of your life, if you want to be saved to the uttermost. See Romans 10:9, r.v. Repentance is His gift equally as forgiveness. Mark that reference to the witness of the Holy Spirit, Acts 5:32. Let us never stand in pulpit or class without being first assured that the truth we utter is such that He can endorse.
Gamaliel had been Paul's teacher. He was very astute and non-committal. He said, "Let us wait and see; the truth will conquer." He expected that the new enthusiasm would die down if it were let alone. He knew that a draught of wind fans a fire. But he lived to see his mistake. We must be warned by Acts 5:42 not only to preach Christ as king in the Temple, but also at home. [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 5:35

Take heed [προσεχετε εαυτοις]
Hold your mind (νουν — noun unexpressed) for or on yourselves (dative case), the usual idiom. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 5:35

Acts 20:28 Take heed unto yourselves [προσεχετε εαυτοις]
The full phrase had τον νουν — ton noun hold your mind on yourselves (or other object in the dative), as often in old writers and in Job 7:17. But the ancients often used the idiom with νουν — noun understood, but not expressed as here and Acts 5:35; Luke 12:1; Luke 17:3; Luke 21:34; 1 Timothy 1:4; 1 Timothy 3:8; 1 Timothy 4:13. Επεχε — Epeche is so used in 1 Timothy 4:16. [source]
Acts 5:34 Had in honour of all the people [τιμιος παντι τωι λαωι]
Ethical dative. Τιμιος — Timios from τιμη — timē old word meaning precious, dear. The men (τους αντρωπους — tous anthrōpous). Correct text as in Acts 5:35, not “the apostles” as Textus Receptus. [source]
Acts 5:34 The men [τους αντρωπους]
Correct text as in Acts 5:35, not “the apostles” as Textus Receptus. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 5:35 mean?

He said then to them Men Israelites take heed to yourselves with the men these what you are about to do
Εἶπέν τε πρὸς αὐτούς Ἄνδρες Ἰσραηλῖται προσέχετε ἑαυτοῖς ἐπὶ τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τούτοις τί μέλλετε πράσσειν

Εἶπέν  He  said 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
Ἄνδρες  Men 
Parse: Noun, Vocative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀνήρ  
Sense: with reference to sex.
Ἰσραηλῖται  Israelites 
Parse: Noun, Vocative Masculine Plural
Root: Ἰσραηλίτης  
Sense: an Israelite, one of the race of Israel, a name to be held in honour.
προσέχετε  take  heed 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: προσέχω  
Sense: to bring to, bring near.
ἑαυτοῖς  to  yourselves 
Parse: Reflexive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἑαυτοῦ  
Sense: himself, herself, itself, themselves.
ἀνθρώποις  men 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: ἄνθρωπος  
Sense: a human being, whether male or female.
τούτοις  these 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
μέλλετε  you  are  about 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: μέλλω  
Sense: to be about.
πράσσειν  to  do 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: ἀναπράσσω 
Sense: to exercise, practise, to be busy with, carry on.

What are the major concepts related to Acts 5:35?

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