Acts 5:18

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

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}.

Complete Jewish Bible

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

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Acts 5:18 details the arrest of the apostles by the Jewish religious authorities, specifically the high priest and the Sadducees. This action was a direct response to the apostles' burgeoning influence, their miraculous healings, and their bold proclamation of Jesus' resurrection, which challenged the established order and drew vast numbers of people to the burgeoning Christian movement, ultimately leading to their incarceration in a public prison.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows a period of intense divine activity and remarkable growth within the early Christian community in Jerusalem. [Acts 5:12-16](/acts/5-12-16 "Acts 5:12-16 - Signs, Wonders, and Growth") describes how the apostles were performing "many signs and wonders among the people," leading to a significant increase in believers, with "multitudes of men and women being added to the Lord." The public's faith was so profound that they brought the sick into the streets, hoping for healing even by [Peter's shadow passing over them](/acts/5-15 "Acts 5:15 - Healing by Peter's Shadow"). This widespread popularity and the apostles' unwavering message of Jesus' resurrection directly challenged the authority and doctrines of the Sadducees, who vehemently denied the resurrection of the dead, as noted in [Acts 4:2](/acts/4-2 "Acts 4:2 - Sadducees Oppose Resurrection"). This was not the first instance of opposition; [Peter and John had previously been arrested](/acts/4-3 "Acts 4:3 - Peter and John's First Arrest") for their teaching, setting a precedent for this renewed persecution. The arrest in Acts 5:18 serves as a pivot point, leading directly into the miraculous divine intervention of an angel opening the prison doors in [Acts 5:19](/acts/5-19 "Acts 5:19 - Angelic Release from Prison"), further validating the apostles' mission.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The events of Acts 5:18 unfold in Jerusalem, the epicenter of Jewish religious and political life. The "they" who laid hands on the apostles are identified in the preceding verse ([Acts 5:17](/acts/5-17 "Acts 5:17 - The High Priest and Sadducees Act")) as the high priest and the sect of the Sadducees, who were filled with jealousy. The Sadducees constituted the aristocratic, priestly class, holding significant power within the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish judicial council. Their theological tenets included a rejection of the resurrection, angels, and spirits, placing them in direct conflict with the apostles' core message of Jesus' resurrection and the power of the Holy Spirit. Imprisonment in a "common prison" (δημόσιος τήρησις) signifies that the apostles were treated not as religious disputants but as common criminals, stripped of any special status, and held in a public facility, underscoring the authorities' contempt and their desire to publicly discredit and suppress the burgeoning Christian movement. This public setting also ironically set the stage for a public display of divine power.

* **Key Themes:** Acts 5:18 powerfully illustrates several recurring themes within the book of Acts and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights the **Persecution of the Early Church**, demonstrating that the rapid spread of the Gospel was met with immediate and forceful opposition from established religious powers. This arrest underscores the reality that faithfulness to God's call often leads to adversity and resistance, a theme Jesus himself warned His disciples about in [Matthew 10:17-18](/matthew/10-17-18 "Matthew 10:17-18 - Jesus Warns of Persecution"). Secondly, the verse exemplifies the **Clash of Authorities**, pitting human attempts to suppress a divine movement against God's sovereign plan. The high priest and Sadducees, representing earthly power, sought to silence those acting under God's ultimate authority. Thirdly, it sets the stage for the theme of **Divine Sovereignty and Protection**, as God's purposes cannot be ultimately thwarted by human opposition, foreshadowing the miraculous release that immediately follows. Finally, it reinforces the **Boldness and Obedience** of the apostles, who, despite previous warnings and the threat of imprisonment, continued their ministry, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to [obey God rather than men](/acts/4-19-20 "Acts 4:19-20 - Peter and John's Declaration").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **laid (Greek, _epibállō'_):** From the Greek verb G1911, meaning "to throw upon" or "to cast upon," often with force. In this context, it signifies a forceful seizure or the act of laying hands upon someone to arrest them. It conveys an action of power and control exerted by the authorities over the apostles, indicating a physical apprehension and detention.
* **apostles (Greek, _apóstolos'_):** From the Greek noun G652, meaning "a delegate," "an ambassador of the Gospel," or "a commissioner of Christ" with miraculous powers. This term highlights the unique, divinely appointed status and authority of those being arrested. They were not merely ordinary individuals but Christ's chosen emissaries, making their arrest an act of defiance against divine commission.
* **common (Greek, _dēmósios'_):** From the Greek adjective G1219, meaning "public" or "openly." When used with "prison," it indicates a public jail, accessible to the general populace, rather than a private or specialized detention facility. This detail emphasizes that the apostles were treated as ordinary criminals, subjected to public humiliation and the same conditions as other offenders, further underscoring the authorities' contempt for their activities.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And laid their hands on the apostles":** This clause describes the initial action taken by the high priest and the Sadducees (implied from the preceding verse). "Laying hands" here is an idiom for physical apprehension and arrest, signifying a forceful and authoritative act of detention. The target of this action, "the apostles," emphasizes that the religious leaders specifically sought to neutralize the leaders of the burgeoning Christian movement, recognizing their pivotal role in its growth and influence.
* **"and put them":** This phrase denotes the act of incarceration, the physical placement of the apostles into a confined space. It highlights the authorities' intent to remove the apostles from public ministry and to restrict their freedom and ability to preach and perform miracles.
* **"in the common prison":** This specifies the type of detention facility. A "common prison" (δημόσιος τήρησις) was a public jail, typically used for ordinary criminals. This detail underscores the authorities' intent to humiliate the apostles and treat them as common lawbreakers, thereby attempting to diminish their spiritual authority and public standing in the eyes of the people. It also sets the stage for the dramatic, public miracle of their release.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs **Antithesis** by presenting a stark contrast between the divine power and miraculous works performed by the apostles (as described in the preceding verses) and the human authorities' attempt to suppress this divine movement through physical force and imprisonment. This opposition highlights the ongoing spiritual battle between God's kingdom and worldly powers. Furthermore, the act of imprisonment serves as a form of **Foreshadowing**, hinting at the greater persecutions that the early church would face, but also implicitly foreshadowing the divine intervention and ultimate triumph that God would bring about, as immediately demonstrated by the angelic release in the subsequent verses. There is also an element of **Irony** in the authorities' actions; by placing the apostles in a *public* prison, they inadvertently set the stage for a *public* and undeniable miracle, which would further validate the apostles' message and God's power, ultimately undermining the very authority that sought to suppress them.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Acts 5:18 powerfully illustrates the recurring biblical theme of the world's opposition to God's truth and His messengers. Just as the prophets of old faced rejection and persecution, and ultimately Jesus Himself was arrested and crucified, the early apostles experienced immediate and forceful resistance from those whose power and traditions were threatened by the Gospel. This opposition is not merely a historical footnote but a theological reality: the kingdom of God, advancing through the proclamation of Christ, will inevitably clash with the kingdoms of this world. Yet, in this apparent setback, God's sovereignty is highlighted; His power is often most clearly demonstrated not in the absence of struggle, but within it, turning human attempts at suppression into opportunities for divine display. The arrest of the apostles underscores that suffering for Christ is an expected part of discipleship, a testament to the truth of the message they bear.

* [Matthew 5:10](/matthew/5-10 "Matthew 5:10 - Blessed Are the Persecuted")
* [2 Timothy 3:12](/2_timothy/3-12 "2 Timothy 3:12 - Persecution for Godliness")
* [1 Peter 4:12-16](/1_peter/4-12-16 "1 Peter 4:12-16 - Suffering for Christ")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Acts 5:18 serves as a poignant reminder that faithfully following Christ and proclaiming His truth can often lead to adversity and opposition, even from those in positions of authority. For believers today, this passage encourages steadfastness and courage in the face of challenges. It prompts us to consider how we respond when our faith is met with resistance, ridicule, or even direct persecution. Do we compromise our convictions, or do we, like the apostles, continue to "obey God rather than men" ([Acts 5:29](/acts/5-29 "Acts 5:29 - Obeying God Rather Than Men"))? This verse also offers comfort, reminding us that even in moments of apparent weakness or confinement, God remains sovereign. His purposes cannot be thwarted by human efforts, and He is capable of delivering His people and advancing His kingdom through unexpected means, even miraculously. It calls us to trust in God's protective hand and His ultimate victory, even when circumstances seem dire, knowing that our suffering for Christ is never in vain but contributes to His glorious plan.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do you typically react when your Christian faith or actions for Christ encounter opposition or criticism?**
* **In what ways might God be at work, even in situations where you feel constrained, limited, or persecuted for your beliefs?**
* **What does "obeying God rather than men" practically look like in your daily life, and what might be the cost of such obedience?**

### FAQ
**Who were "they" who laid hands on the apostles and why did they do it?**

Answer: "They" refers to the high priest and the Sadducees, as specified in [Acts 5:17](/acts/5-17 "Acts 5:17 - The High Priest and Sadducees Act"). Their motivation was primarily "jealousy" (KJV: "indignation"), stemming from the apostles' growing popularity, their miraculous healings, and their bold proclamation of Jesus' resurrection. The Sadducees, in particular, did not believe in the resurrection of the dead ([Acts 4:2](/acts/4-2 "Acts 4:2 - Sadducees' Opposition to Resurrection")), so the apostles' core message directly challenged their theological and political authority. They sought to suppress this new movement that was drawing large crowds and undermining their established control.

**Why were the apostles put in the "common prison" specifically, rather than a different form of detention?**

Answer: Placing the apostles in the "common prison" (δημόσιος τήρησις, a public jail) was likely a deliberate act to humiliate them and treat them as ordinary criminals, thereby attempting to discredit their perceived divine authority and public standing. It signified that the religious leaders viewed them not as theological opponents but as disruptive elements, common lawbreakers who needed to be contained. This public incarceration also, ironically, set the stage for a highly visible and undeniable miracle when an angel of the Lord later opened the prison doors ([Acts 5:19](/acts/5-19 "Acts 5:19 - Angelic Release from Prison")), further validating the apostles' message in the eyes of the very public the authorities sought to dissuade.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The arrest of the apostles in Acts 5:18 finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the life and ministry of Jesus Himself. Just as the apostles were seized by religious authorities and cast into prison, Jesus, the very Son of God, was also arrested by the temple guard and Jewish leaders ([John 18:12](/john/18-12 "John 18:12 - Jesus' Arrest")), subjected to unjust trials ([Matthew 27:11-26](/matthew/27-11-26 "Matthew 27:11-26 - Jesus' Trial Before Pilate")), and ultimately crucified as a common criminal. The apostles' suffering for proclaiming the truth of the resurrection directly mirrors Christ's own suffering for embodying that truth. Their experience of being treated as outlaws, despite their divine commission, echoes the prophet Isaiah's description of the Suffering Servant, who was "despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering" ([Isaiah 53:3-5](/isaiah/53-3-5 "Isaiah 53:3-5 - The Suffering Servant")). However, just as Jesus' arrest led not to defeat but to the ultimate triumph of His resurrection and ascension, the apostles' imprisonment in Acts 5:18 sets the stage for a miraculous divine intervention, demonstrating that no human authority can thwart God's redemptive plan. Their experience foreshadows the truth that believers are called to share in Christ's sufferings ([Philippians 3:10](/phil/3-10 "Philippians 3:10 - Sharing in Christ's Sufferings")), knowing that His ultimate victory over sin, death, and all opposing powers ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers")) guarantees the triumph of His church, even in the face of persecution.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI 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.