Devine Scripture

Acts 5:42

What does Acts 5:42 mean?

A plain-English look at Acts 5:42 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Acts 5:42 means

Day by day, in the temple and from house to house, the apostles do not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. Their ministry is continual, public and private, instructional and evangelistic. The content is clear: Jesus is the Messiah. Despite threats and beatings, they persist, obeying God rather than men. This verse is a fitting climax: the church, purified by God’s holiness and emboldened by His power, advances through faithful proclamation. The pattern set here will carry through Acts—unhindered witness amid opposition. The apostles’ constancy shows that the risen, exalted Christ is the heart of the message and the source of endurance.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And every day, in the temple and at home, they ceased not to teach and to preach Jesus as the Christ.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And every day, in the temple and at home, they ceased not to teach and to preach Jesus as the Christ.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And every day, in the Temple and privately, they went on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

every day also in the temple, and in every house, they were not ceasing teaching and proclaiming good news--Jesus the Christ.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And every day they ceased not, in the temple and from house to house, to teach and preach Christ Jesus.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And every day, in the temple and in the houses, they ceased not teaching and announcing the glad tidings that Jesus [was] the Christ.

Context

This concluding summary follows the apostles’ joyful acceptance of suffering. It demonstrates that the council’s threats failed to stop the mission. The pairing of temple and homes shows breadth of outreach; teaching and preaching show depth and clarity. The chapter ends where its central conflict began: the name of Jesus proclaimed without ceasing. This sets the stage for continued growth, further challenges, and the spread of the gospel beyond Jerusalem, as Acts progresses. The emphasis remains on Jesus as the Christ and on the Spirit-empowered perseverance of His witnesses.

v.41They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name.

v.42This passage

Cross references

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

  • Luke 21:37

    And every day he was teaching in the temple; and every night he went out, and lodged in the mount that is called Olivet.

  • Luke 22:53

    When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched not forth your hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.

  • Acts 17:18

    And certain also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, What would this babbler say? others, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached Jesus and the resurrection.

  • Acts 8:5

    And Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed unto them the Christ.

  • Acts 11:20

    But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus.

  • Acts 3:1

    Now Peter and John were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, beingthe ninth hour.

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