Acts 5:18

And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.

And {G2532} laid {G1911} their {G846} hands {G5495} on {G1909} the apostles {G652}, and {G2532} put {G5087} them {G846} in {G1722} the common {G1219} prison {G5084}.

They arrested the emissaries and put them in the public jail.

and arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.

and laid hands on the apostles, and put them in public ward.

Commentary

Acts 5:18 KJV describes a pivotal moment in the early days of the Christian church, where the burgeoning influence of the apostles provoked a strong reaction from the established religious authorities in Jerusalem.

Context

This verse follows a period of remarkable growth and divine activity within the nascent Christian community. The apostles, empowered by the Holy Spirit, were performing numerous signs and wonders among the people. This led to a significant increase in believers, as multitudes of men and women were added to the Lord. The public's faith was so profound that they even brought the sick into the streets, hoping for healing through the apostles, even by Peter's shadow passing over them. This widespread popularity and the apostles' proclamation of Jesus' resurrection directly challenged the authority and doctrines of the Sadducees, who did not believe in a resurrection (Acts 4:2). This was not the first time the apostles faced arrest; Peter and John had previously been imprisoned for their teaching.

Key Themes

  • Persecution of the Early Church: Acts 5:18 vividly illustrates the immediate and forceful opposition the early Christian movement faced from established religious powers. This arrest highlights that the spread of the Gospel often encounters resistance.
  • Clash of Authorities: The actions of the high priest and the Sadducees represent human attempts to suppress a divine movement. The apostles were acting under God's authority, which directly conflicted with the earthly authority seeking to silence them.
  • Boldness in Witness: Despite the threat of imprisonment and the previous warnings, the apostles continued their ministry, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to their calling to obey God rather than men.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "laid their hands on the apostles" signifies a forceful seizure or arrest, indicating an act of power and control by the authorities. The term "common prison" suggests that the apostles were treated as ordinary criminals, placed in a public jail alongside other offenders, rather than being held in a more privileged or private detention. This underscores the contempt and seriousness with which the religious leaders viewed their activities.

Significance and Application

Acts 5:18 serves as a powerful reminder that faithfulness to God's call can often lead to adversity and opposition. The early church's experience of being arrested for proclaiming the truth echoes Jesus' warnings to His disciples about facing persecution (Matthew 10:17-18). However, this verse also sets the stage for a miraculous intervention, as an angel of the Lord later opens the prison doors (Acts 5:19), demonstrating God's sovereign protection and His ability to overcome human barriers. For believers today, this passage encourages steadfastness in the face of challenges, reminding us that God is with His people even in difficult circumstances, and His purposes cannot be ultimately thwarted by human opposition.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Acts 4:3

    And they laid hands on them, and put [them] in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.

  • 2 Corinthians 11:23

    Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I [am] more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

  • Luke 21:12

    But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute [you], delivering [you] up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.

  • Acts 16:23

    And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast [them] into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

  • Acts 16:27

    And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

  • Acts 12:5

    ¶ Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

  • Acts 12:7

    And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon [him], and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from [his] hands.
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