Devine Scripture

Acts 5:33

What does Acts 5:33 mean?

A plain-English look at Acts 5:33 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Acts 5:33 means

When the council hears the apostles’ testimony, they are cut to the heart and intend to kill them. The phrase shows deep conviction and anger, a hardening rather than repentance. The leaders perceive the implications: if Jesus is exalted, they stand opposed to God. Instead of yielding, they seek to silence the witnesses by violence. This reaction confirms the apostles’ earlier claim that they must obey God rather than men. The gospel comforts the humble but confronts the proud. The verse reveals the stakes of the conflict: truth that saves is also truth that exposes, and hardened hearts may choose hostility over repentance.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and were minded to slay them.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and were minded to slay them.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

But when these words came to their ears, they were cut to the heart, and had a mind to put them to death.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And they having heard, were cut <FI>to the heart<Fi> , and were taking counsel to slay them,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

When they had heard these things, they were cut to the heart: and they thought to put them to death.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

But they, when they heard [these things], were cut to the heart, and took counsel to kill them.

Context

Following Peter’s Spirit-empowered testimony, the council’s rage peaks. This is the chapter’s crisis point, where the apostles’ lives are in immediate danger. The next verse introduces Gamaliel, a respected Pharisee, who will counsel caution and thereby avert an immediate execution. His speech will frame the issue as a question of whether this movement is of God. This intervention creates space for the apostles to be punished but released, allowing the gospel mission to continue openly despite opposition.

v.32And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

v.33This passage

v.34But there stood up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in honor of all the people, and commanded to put the men forth a little while.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Acts 22:22

    And they gave him audience unto this word; and they lifted up their voice, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.

  • John 16:2

    They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the hour cometh, that whosoever killeth you shall think that he offereth service unto God.

  • Matthew 10:21

    And brother shall deliver up brother to death, and the father his child: and children shall rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death.

  • Psalms 37:12

    The wicked plotteth against the just, And gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

  • Acts 9:23

    And when many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel together to kill him:

  • Luke 11:50

    that the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;

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