Acts 5:24

KJV

Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.

KJV (with Strong's)

Now {G1161} when {G5613}{G5037} the high priest {G2409} and {G2532} the captain {G4755} of the temple {G2411} and {G2532} the chief priests {G749} heard {G191} these {G5128} things {G3056}, they doubted {G1280} of {G4012} them {G846} whereunto {G5101}{G302} this {G5124} would grow {G1096}.

Complete Jewish Bible

When the captain of the Temple police and the head cohanim heard these things, they were puzzled and wondered what would happen next.

Berean Standard Bible

When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this account, they were perplexed as to what was happening.

American Standard Version

Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were much perplexed concerning them whereunto this would grow.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Acts 5:24 vividly portrays the profound bewilderment and growing apprehension among the Jewish religious authorities—specifically the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests—upon hearing of the apostles' miraculous escape from prison and their immediate return to public preaching in the temple. This moment underscores their deep uncertainty and fear regarding the burgeoning Christian movement, whose trajectory and ultimate impact seemed entirely beyond their control and comprehension.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Acts 5:24 is situated within a critical narrative sequence that highlights the unstoppable advance of the early Christian message despite escalating opposition from the Jewish religious establishment. Immediately prior, the apostles had been arrested for their persistent preaching of Jesus Christ (Acts 5:17-18). However, an angel of the Lord miraculously intervened, opening the prison doors and instructing them to continue proclaiming "all the words of this life" in the temple (Acts 5:19-20). When the Sanhedrin convened and sent for the apostles, they discovered the prison securely locked but empty (Acts 5:21-23). News then arrived that the apostles were, in fact, back in the temple, boldly teaching the people. This verse captures the exact moment the senior religious leaders received these astonishing reports, leading directly to their profound perplexity and setting the stage for the apostles' subsequent appearance before the Sanhedrin and Peter's famous declaration in [Acts 5:29](/acts/5-29 "Acts 5:29 - Obeying God Rather Than Men").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The religious authorities mentioned—the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests—represented the apex of Jewish power and influence in Jerusalem under Roman occupation. The high priest presided over the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish judicial and religious council. The captain of the temple was a prominent Levite officer responsible for maintaining order within the temple precincts and commanding the temple guard. The chief priests were members of the priestly aristocracy, often former high priests or heads of priestly families. Their concern was multifaceted: maintaining the established religious order, preventing any popular movements that might provoke Roman intervention, and preserving their own authority and interpretation of the Mosaic Law. The temple itself was not merely a place of worship but the very heart of Jewish national and spiritual identity. The apostles' actions, particularly their claims about a crucified and resurrected Messiah, directly challenged the theological and political foundations upon which these leaders' power rested, creating a volatile situation that they desperately sought to control.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Acts. First, it highlights the **perplexity and ultimate futility of human opposition against divine will**. The religious leaders, despite their immense power and concerted efforts, are utterly bewildered by events clearly orchestrated by God, demonstrating that no human strategy can thwart God's purposes. Second, it underscores the **unstoppable nature of the Gospel message**. Even imprisonment and threats cannot silence the apostles, who are divinely commissioned and empowered. Their immediate return to public preaching after a miraculous escape reinforces the inherent power and divine backing of the Christian message, as seen in the church's early growth mentioned in [Acts 2:47](/acts/2-47 "Acts 2:47 - The Lord Adds to Their Number"). Finally, the leaders' concern about "whereunto this would grow" points to the **rapid and unexpected growth of the early church**. They recognized that the apostles' message was gaining significant traction among the populace, posing an existential threat to their established religious and social order, foreshadowing the widespread expansion of the Christian movement beyond Jerusalem, as envisioned in [Acts 1:8](/acts/1-8 "Acts 1:8 - The Scope of Witness").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **doubted (Greek, _diaporéō'_):** From G1280, meaning "to be thoroughly nonplussed," "to be at a loss," or "to be without a way out." This word conveys a sense of deep bewilderment, intellectual helplessness, and profound perplexity. It's more than simple questioning; it's a state of being utterly confounded and unable to comprehend or resolve a situation, indicative of the leaders' complete lack of control over the unfolding events.
* **things (Greek, _lógos'_):** From G3056, meaning "something said," "a topic," or "a message." While translated "things" here, it carries the weight of the apostles' message and the events surrounding it—the miraculous escape, the empty prison, and their continued preaching. It refers to the entire phenomenon that was challenging the authorities' understanding and control, particularly the "words of this life" (Acts 5:20) that the apostles were proclaiming.
* **grow (Greek, _gínomai'_):** From G1096, meaning "to become," "to come into being," or "to happen." In this context, it refers to the development, expansion, and ultimate outcome of the Christian movement. The leaders were not merely perplexed by the immediate events but deeply concerned about the future trajectory and potential magnitude of this burgeoning faith, fearing what it "would become" or "would grow into."

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things":** This clause precisely identifies the key figures of the Jewish religious establishment who were directly confronted with the astonishing news. Their collective hearing of "these things"—the report of the empty prison and the apostles' continued public preaching—marks the moment of their profound realization that their efforts to suppress the movement had failed spectacularly, and indeed, seemed to be divinely thwarted. This highlights the direct challenge to their authority and control.
* **"they doubted of them whereunto this would grow":** This phrase encapsulates the leaders' deep perplexity and anxiety. "Doubted" (diaporéō) signifies their utter bewilderment and inability to grasp or contain the situation. They were not merely questioning the apostles' actions but were profoundly concerned about the unknown future and the potential magnitude of this burgeoning movement. The phrase "whereunto this would grow" expresses their fear of the inevitable expansion and influence of the Christian message, which they perceived as a significant threat to their established religious and political order, and which seemed to be operating outside the bounds of their human power and understanding.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices. **Irony** is prominent, as the very authorities charged with upholding God's law and maintaining order in His temple are utterly confounded by a movement that is clearly empowered by God Himself. Their attempts to suppress the apostles only serve to highlight the divine origin and unstoppable nature of the Gospel. There is also a strong element of **foreshadowing**, as the leaders' concern about "whereunto this would grow" anticipates the rapid and widespread expansion of the early church, which indeed grew far beyond Jerusalem and into the Gentile world, fulfilling the Great Commission. Finally, the verse presents a stark **contrast** between the limited, frustrated power of human institutions and the boundless, sovereign power of God. The leaders' perplexity underscores the futility of human resistance against divine purposes.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Acts 5:24 powerfully illustrates the theological truth that God's purposes cannot be thwarted by human opposition. The religious authorities, representing the pinnacle of human power and wisdom in Jerusalem, are rendered utterly helpless and perplexed in the face of divine intervention. This highlights the sovereignty of God over all human institutions and plans, demonstrating that His kingdom will advance regardless of the resistance it encounters. The verse serves as a profound reminder that the Gospel's power does not reside in human strength or strategy, but in God's miraculous work, which often unfolds in ways that defy human logic and control, leaving those who oppose it in a state of bewilderment.

* [Isaiah 55:11](/isaiah/55-11 "Isaiah 55:11 - God's Word Will Not Return Empty")
* [Proverbs 21:30](/proverbs/21-30 "Proverbs 21:30 - No Wisdom Against the Lord")
* [Matthew 16:18](/matthew/16-18 "Matthew 16:18 - The Church Built on the Rock")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Acts 5:24 offers timeless lessons for believers today. It encourages profound trust in God's sovereignty, reminding us that even in the face of formidable opposition, divine plans will ultimately prevail. When we encounter resistance to the Gospel or feel overwhelmed by seemingly insurmountable obstacles, this verse assures us that God's work is not dependent on human strength or ingenuity, but on His own power and wisdom. It also challenges us to cultivate the same unwavering boldness as the apostles, who, despite repeated arrests and threats, continued to proclaim the truth. Their obedience to God rather than men (Acts 5:29) fueled the growth of the early church and serves as a powerful model for our own faithful witness. Furthermore, the perplexity of the religious leaders reminds us that the truth of Christ often disrupts established systems and comfortable norms, exposing the limitations of human control when confronted with spiritual realities. We should be prepared for the Gospel to create discomfort and challenge the status quo, even among those who claim religious authority.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the perplexity of the religious leaders in Acts 5:24 encourage or challenge your understanding of God's sovereignty in the face of opposition?**
* **In what areas of your life or ministry might you be tempted to doubt God's ability to "grow" His work beyond your control or comprehension?**
* **What practical steps can you take to cultivate greater boldness in sharing your faith, even when faced with potential resistance or misunderstanding?**

### FAQ
**What does "they doubted of them whereunto this would grow" truly mean?**

Answer: This phrase signifies the profound perplexity and deep concern of the Jewish religious authorities. It means they were utterly bewildered and at a loss, unable to comprehend or control the unfolding events surrounding the apostles. Their "doubt" was not merely skepticism, but a state of being thoroughly nonplussed and without a clear path forward. They were deeply anxious about the future trajectory and potential magnitude of the Christian movement, fearing what it "would become" or "would grow into," recognizing it as a significant and uncontrollable threat to their established order.

**Who are "the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests"?**

Answer: These individuals represent the highest echelons of Jewish religious and judicial authority in Jerusalem during the time of the early church. The high priest was the head of the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish governing council. The captain of the temple was a high-ranking Levite officer responsible for the security and order of the Temple precincts, commanding the Temple guard. The chief priests were members of the priestly aristocracy, often former high priests or heads of prominent priestly families, who wielded significant influence within the Sanhedrin. Together, they constituted the most powerful opposition to the nascent Christian movement, seeking to suppress its message and maintain their traditional authority.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Acts 5:24, with its depiction of the religious authorities' perplexity over the burgeoning Christian movement, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the unstoppable advance of Christ's kingdom, established through His death, resurrection, and ascension. The "this" that would "grow" is not merely a human movement, but the very body of Christ, the Church, over which Jesus reigns as the supreme Head. The bewildered leaders, attempting to thwart the apostles, were in fact standing against the sovereign will of the resurrected Lord, who declared, "[All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth](/matthew/28-18 "Matthew 28:18 - All Authority Given to Christ")" and promised that "[the gates of Hades will not overpower it](/matthew/16-18 "Matthew 16:18 - The Church Built on the Rock")" (referring to His Church). The growth they feared was the divine expansion of Christ's dominion, a spiritual reality that no human power could contain or comprehend. This verse thus points to the triumph of Christ's redemptive work, ensuring that His Church, His body, will continue to grow and fulfill His global mission, demonstrating His ultimate authority "[far above all rule and authority and power and dominion](/ephesians/1-21 "Ephesians 1:21 - Christ's Supremacy")" and making Him "[head over all things to the church, which is His body](/ephesians/1-22-23 "Ephesians 1:22-23 - Christ as Head of the Church, His Body")".

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 5:26

¶ Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.

Acts 4:1

¶ And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,

Daniel 2:34

Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet [that were] of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.

Daniel 2:35

Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.

John 11:47

Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.

John 11:48

If we let him thus alone, all [men] will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.

Luke 22:52

Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?