Acts 5:32

And we are his witnesses of these things; and [so is] also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

And {G2532} we {G2249} are {G2070} his {G846} witnesses {G3144} of these {G5130} things {G4487}; and {G2532} so is also {G1161} the Holy {G40} Ghost {G4151}, whom {G3739} God {G2316} hath given {G1325} to them that obey {G3980} him {G846}.

We are witnesses to these things; so is the Ruach HaKodesh, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

Acts 5:32 captures Peter's bold declaration before the Sanhedrin, emphasizing the undeniable truth of the Gospel message. This verse highlights the dual nature of Christian witness: the human testimony of the apostles and the divine confirmation of the Holy Spirit, linking the Spirit's presence to obedience.

Context

This verse is part of Peter's courageous defense before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish high court, after he and the other apostles were arrested for continuing to preach about Jesus Christ despite being explicitly commanded not to (Acts 5:28). Peter's response, "We ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29), sets the stage for this powerful statement. They were testifying to the resurrection and exaltation of Jesus, whom God had made "a Prince and a Saviour" (Acts 5:31).

Key Themes

  • Apostolic Witness: The apostles assert their role as direct eyewitnesses ("we are his witnesses") to the pivotal events of Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and ascension. Their testimony was not hearsay but a personal, undeniable account, forming the bedrock of the early church's proclamation. This underscores the historical reliability of the Gospel message.
  • The Holy Spirit as Co-Witness: Crucially, the Holy Spirit is presented as a divine co-witness. The Spirit's presence, power, and activity (e.g., miracles, transformed lives, bold preaching) corroborated the apostles' human testimony, providing irrefutable divine validation of their message. This highlights the supernatural backing of Christian truth.
  • Obedience and the Spirit's Gift: The verse explicitly states that the Holy Spirit is given "to them that obey him." This establishes a profound link between a life of submission to God's will and the reception or empowering presence of the Holy Spirit. It implies that true faith leads to active obedience, which is a condition for experiencing the Spirit's full empowering for witness and service.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "witnesses" is martyres (μάρτυρες), from which we derive the English word "martyr." This term carries the strong implication of bearing testimony even in the face of persecution, suffering, or death. The "Holy Ghost" (Greek: Pneuma Hagion) refers to the third person of the Trinity, confirming the divine nature of the Spirit's role in validating the truth of Christ's resurrection and the Gospel.

Related Scriptures

  • The commission to be witnesses is central to the book of Acts, first given by Jesus in Acts 1:8.
  • The promise of the Holy Spirit being given to those who repent and are baptized is also found in Acts 2:38.
  • The relationship between obedience and receiving the Spirit is echoed in Jesus' teaching about love and obedience in John 14:15 and the Spirit's role as Helper in John 14:26.

Practical Application

Acts 5:32 serves as a powerful reminder for believers today. Firstly, it affirms the importance of sharing our personal testimony of Jesus Christ, just as the apostles did. Secondly, it underscores our reliance on the Holy Spirit; our human words gain divine power and conviction when accompanied by the Spirit's presence. Finally, the verse challenges us to live a life of active obedience to God. It suggests that a deeper experience of the Holy Spirit's power and guidance is intimately connected to our willingness to follow God's commands, enabling us to be more effective witnesses in the world.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • John 15:26

    But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, [even] the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

  • John 15:27

    And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

  • Hebrews 2:3

    How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard [him];

  • Hebrews 2:4

    God also bearing [them] witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

  • Luke 24:47

    And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

  • Luke 24:48

    And ye are witnesses of these things.

  • Acts 1:8

    But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

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