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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;"/><title>Acts 5:24 Commentaries: Now when the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them as to what would come of this.</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newcom.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../vmenus/acts/5-24.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmcom/acts/5-24.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="http://biblehub.com/commentaries/">Commentaries</a> > Acts 5:24</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../acts/5-23.htm" title="Acts 5:23">◄</a> Acts 5:24 <a href="../acts/5-25.htm" title="Acts 5:25">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse">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.</div><div id="jump">Jump to: <a href="/commentaries/alford/acts/5.htm" title="Henry Alford - Greek Testament Critical Exegetical Commentary">Alford</a> • <a href="/commentaries/barnes/acts/5.htm" title="Barnes' Notes">Barnes</a> • <a href="/commentaries/bengel/acts/5.htm" title="Bengel's Gnomen">Bengel</a> • <a href="/commentaries/benson/acts/5.htm" title="Benson Commentary">Benson</a> • <a href="/commentaries/illustrator/acts/5.htm" title="Biblical Illustrator">BI</a> • <a href="/commentaries/calvin/acts/5.htm" title="Calvin's Commentaries">Calvin</a> • <a href="/commentaries/cambridge/acts/5.htm" title="Cambridge Bible">Cambridge</a> • <a href="/commentaries/chrysostom/acts/5.htm" title="Chrysostom Homilies">Chrysostom</a> • <a href="/commentaries/clarke/acts/5.htm" title="Clarke's Commentary">Clarke</a> • <a href="/commentaries/darby/acts/5.htm" title="Darby's Bible Synopsis">Darby</a> • <a href="/commentaries/ellicott/acts/5.htm" title="Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers">Ellicott</a> • <a href="/commentaries/expositors/acts/5.htm" title="Expositor's Bible">Expositor's</a> • <a href="/commentaries/edt/acts/5.htm" title="Expositor's Dictionary">Exp Dct</a> • <a href="/commentaries/egt/acts/5.htm" title="Expositor's Greek">Exp Grk</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gaebelein/acts/5.htm" title="Gaebelein's Annotated Bible">Gaebelein</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gsb/acts/5.htm" title="Geneva Study Bible">GSB</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gill/acts/5.htm" title="Gill's Bible Exposition">Gill</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gray/acts/5.htm" title="Gray's Concise">Gray</a> • <a href="/commentaries/guzik/acts/5.htm" title="Guzik Bible Commentary">Guzik</a> • <a href="/commentaries/haydock/acts/5.htm" title="Haydock Catholic Bible Commentary">Haydock</a> • <a href="/commentaries/hastings/acts/4-12.htm" title="Hastings Great Texts">Hastings</a> • <a href="/commentaries/homiletics/acts/5.htm" title="Pulpit Homiletics">Homiletics</a> • <a href="/commentaries/icc/acts/5.htm" title="ICC NT Commentary">ICC</a> • <a href="/commentaries/jfb/acts/5.htm" title="Jamieson-Fausset-Brown">JFB</a> • <a href="/commentaries/kelly/acts/5.htm" title="Kelly Commentary">Kelly</a> • <a href="/commentaries/king-en/acts/5.htm" title="Kingcomments Bible Studies">King</a> • <a href="/commentaries/lange/acts/5.htm" title="Lange Commentary">Lange</a> • <a href="/commentaries/maclaren/acts/5.htm" title="MacLaren Expositions">MacLaren</a> • <a href="/commentaries/mhc/acts/5.htm" title="Matthew Henry Concise">MHC</a> • <a href="/commentaries/mhcw/acts/5.htm" title="Matthew Henry Full">MHCW</a> • <a href="/commentaries/meyer/acts/5.htm" title="Meyer Commentary">Meyer</a> • <a href="/commentaries/parker/acts/5.htm" title="The People's Bible by Joseph Parker">Parker</a> • <a href="/commentaries/pnt/acts/5.htm" title="People's New Testament">PNT</a> • <a href="/commentaries/poole/acts/5.htm" title="Matthew Poole">Poole</a> • <a href="/commentaries/pulpit/acts/5.htm" title="Pulpit Commentary">Pulpit</a> • <a href="/commentaries/sermon/acts/5.htm" title="Sermon Bible">Sermon</a> • <a href="/commentaries/sco/acts/5.htm" title="Scofield Reference Notes">SCO</a> • <a href="/commentaries/ttb/acts/5.htm" title="Through The Bible">TTB</a> • <a href="/commentaries/vws/acts/5.htm" title="Vincent's Word Studies">VWS</a> • <a href="/commentaries/wes/acts/5.htm" title="Wesley's Notes">WES</a> • <a href="#tsk" title="Treasury of Scripture Knowledge">TSK</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="comtype">EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)</div><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/acts/5.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(24) <span class= "bld">The high priest.</span>—The Received text gives “the priest,” but the use of that word as meaning the high priest has no parallel in the New Testament, and the word is omitted by many of the best MSS.<p><span class= "bld">The captain of the temple.</span>—The commander of the Levite sentinels. (See Notes on <a href="/acts/4-1.htm" title="And as they spoke to the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came on them,">Acts 4:1</a>; <a href="/luke/22-52.htm" title="Then Jesus said to the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be you come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?">Luke 22:52</a>.)<p><span class= "bld">Whereunto this would grow.</span>—Literally, <span class= "ital">what it might become, </span>or, possibly, <span class= "ital">what it might be.</span> They do not seem to have recognised at once the supernatural character of what had taken place, and may have conjectured that the Apostles had by some human help effected their escape.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/benson/acts/5.htm">Benson Commentary</a></div><span class="bld"><a href="/context/acts/5-24.htm" title="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....">Acts 5:24-25</a></span>. <span class="ital">When the high-priest, &c., heard these things </span>— So perfectly unexpected; <span class="ital">they doubted of them </span>— They were extremely perplexed, and even at their wit’s end, having never been so disappointed before of a thing they were so sure of. <span class="ital">They doubted, </span><span class="greekheb">τι αν γενοιτο τουτο</span>, <span class="ital">what this thing might be </span>— That is, whether they had procured their liberty by corrupting the keepers, or whether there might not be something miraculous in the deliverance of persons, whom such extraordinary circumstances had attended; and in that case, what this affair might import, and what the issue of it might be. Thus the world, in persecuting the children of God, entangle themselves in numberless difficulties. <span class="ital">Then came one </span>— Who knew their disappointment, and the uneasiness it gave them; <span class="ital">saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison </span>— And have commanded to be brought to your bar; <span class="ital">are standing in the temple </span>— Here, however they came thither; <span class="ital">and teaching the people </span>— With as much freedom and confidence as ever. Now this confounded them more than any thing. Prisoners, who had broken prison, used to abscond for fear of being retaken; but these prisoners, after they had made their escape, durst show their faces even there where their prosecutors had the greatest influence.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="mhc" id="mhc"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/mhc/acts/5.htm">Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary</a></div>5:17-25 There is no prison so dark, so strong, but God can visit his people in it, and, if he pleases, fetch them out. Recoveries from sickness, releases out of trouble, are granted, not that we may enjoy the comforts of life, but that God may be honoured with the services of our life. It is not for the preachers of Christ's gospel to retire into corners, as long as they can have any opportunity of preaching in the great congregation. They must preach to the lowest, whose souls are as precious to Christ as the souls of the greatest. Speak to all, for all are concerned. Speak as those who resolve to stand to it, to live and die by it. Speak all the words of this heavenly, divine life, in comparison with which the present earthly life does not deserve the name. These words of life, which the Holy Ghost puts into your mouth. The words of the gospel are the words of life; words whereby we may be saved. How wretched are those who are vexed at the success of the gospel! They cannot but see that the word and power of the Lord are against them; and they tremble for the consequences, yet they will go on.<a name="bar" id="bar"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/barnes/acts/5.htm">Barnes' Notes on the Bible</a></div>The captain of the temple - See the notes on <a href="/acts/4-1.htm">Acts 4:1</a>.<p>Doubted of them - They were in "perplexity" about these things. The word rendered "doubted" denotes "that state of anxiety which arises when a person has lost his way, or when he does not know what to do to escape from a difficulty." See <a href="/luke/9-7.htm">Luke 9:7</a>.<p>Whereunto this would grow - What this "would be"; or, what would be the result or end of these events. For:<p>(1) Their authority was disregarded.<p>(2) God had opposed them by a miracle.<p>(3) the doctrines of the apostles were gaining ground.<p>(4) their efforts to resist them had been in vain. They need "not" have doubted; but sinners are not disposed to be convinced of the truth of religion. <a name="jfb" id="jfb"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/jfb/acts/5.htm">Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary</a></div>24-26. they doubted—"were in perplexity."<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/poole/acts/5.htm">Matthew Poole's Commentary</a></div> <span class="bld">The captain of the temple; </span> the commander over the soldiers who were set to guard the temple, either to secure the treasure there, or to be in a readiness to suppress any tumult thereabouts; Pilate speaks of this, <span class="bld"><a href="/matthew/27-65.htm" title="Pilate said to them, You have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as you can.">Matthew 27:65</a></span>. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">The chief priests; </span> the heads of the families, or chief of the courses of the priests. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">They doubted of them; </span> by what means these wonderful things were done; for they were loth to see and acknowledge God in them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="gil" id="gil"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/gill/acts/5.htm">Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible</a></div>Now when the high priest,.... Or "the priests", as it is read in most copies; the Complutensian edition reads, "the high priest"; and he is certainly designed, since he is distinguished from the chief priests after mentioned: the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions, leave out this word; as does also the Alexandrian copy: <p>and the captain of the temple; the same versions read in the plural number; See Gill on <a href="http://biblehub.com/luke/22-4.htm">Luke 22:4</a>, <a href="http://biblehub.com/luke/22-52.htm">Luke 22:52</a>, <a href="/acts/4-1.htm">Acts 4:1</a>. <p>and the chief priests heard these things; which the officers related, that the prison doors were shut and sure, and the keepers upon their watch, and yet the apostles gone: <p>they doubted of them, whereunto this would grow; they did not doubt of the truth of the things their officers told them, but they were amazed at them, and hesitated in their minds about them, and were anxiously thoughtful; what this would, or should be, or how this should be done; that the prison doors should be shut, and yet the prisoners gone; they were in suspense and anxiety of mind, what to impute it to; whether to a divine and supernatural power, or to magic art; and were uneasy in their minds what would be the issue of so strange and surprising an event. <a name="gsb" id="gsb"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/gsb/acts/5.htm">Geneva Study Bible</a></div><span class="cverse2">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.</span></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><div class="comtype">EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)</div><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/meyer/acts/5.htm">Meyer's NT Commentary</a></div><a href="/context/acts/5-24.htm" title="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....">Acts 5:24-25</a>. <span class="greekheb">Ὅ τε ἱερεύς</span>] <span class="ital">the</span> (above designated) <span class="ital">priest</span>, points to the one expressly named in <a href="/acts/5-21.htm" title="And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.">Acts 5:21</a> as <span class="greekheb">ὁ ἁρχιερεύς</span>. The word in itself has not the signification <span class="ital">high priest;</span> but the context (so also in <a href="http://apocrypha.org/1_maccabees/15-1.htm" title="Moreover Antiochus son of Demetrius the king sent letters from the isles of the sea unto Simon the priest and prince of the Jews, and to all the people;">1Ma 15:1</a>; <a href="http://apocrypha.org/baruch/1-7.htm" title="And they sent it to Jerusalem unto Joachim the high priest, the son of Chelcias, son of Salom, and to the priests, and to all the people which were found with him at Jerusalem,">Bar 1:7</a>; <a href="/hebrews/5-6.htm" title="As he said also in another place, You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.">Hebrews 5:6</a>; and see Krebs, p. 178) gives to the general expression this special reference.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="greekheb">ὁ στρατηγὸς τ</span>. <span class="greekheb">ἱεροῦ</span>] see on <a href="/acts/4-1.htm" title="And as they spoke to the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came on them,">Acts 4:1</a>. He also, as the executive functionary of sacred justice, was summoned to the Sanhedrim.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="greekheb">οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς</span>] are the <span class="ital">titular high priests;</span> partly those who at an earlier date had really held the office, and partly the presidents of the twenty-four classes of priests. Comp. on <a href="/matthew/2-4.htm" title="And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.">Matthew 2:4</a>The <span class="ital">order</span> in which Luke names the persons is quite natural. For first and chiefly the directing <span class="greekheb">ἱερεύς</span>, the head of the whole assembly, must feel himself concerned in the unexpected news; and then, even more than the <span class="greekheb">ἀρχιερεῖς</span>, the <span class="greekheb">στρατηγός</span>, because he, without doubt, had himself carried into effect the arrest mentioned at <a href="/acts/5-18.htm" title="And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.">Acts 5:18</a>, and held the supervision of the prison.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="greekheb">διηπόρουν</span> … <span class="greekheb">τοῦτο</span>] <span class="ital">they were full of perplexity</span> (see on <a href="/luke/24-4.htm" title="And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:">Luke 24:4</a>) <span class="ital">concerning them</span> (the apostles), <span class="ital">as to what this might come to</span>—what they had to think of as the possible termination of the occurrence just reported to them. Comp. on <a href="/acts/2-12.htm" title="And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What means this?">Acts 2:12</a>, also <a href="/acts/10-17.htm" title="Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,">Acts 10:17</a>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="greekheb">ἑστῶτες κ</span>.<span class="greekheb">τ</span>.<span class="greekheb">λ</span>.] Comp. <a href="/context/acts/5-20.htm" title="Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life....">Acts 5:20-21</a>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/egt/acts/5.htm">Expositor's Greek Testament</a></div><a href="/acts/5-24.htm" title="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.">Acts 5:24</a>. <span class="greekheb">ὅ τε ἱερεὺς καὶ ὁ στρατηγὸς τοῦ ἱεροῦ καὶ οἱ ἀρχ</span>.: if we retain <span class="greekheb">ὁ ἱερεύς</span> it must mean the high priest, <a href="/acts/5-27.htm" title="And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,">Acts 5:27</a>, <span class="ital">cf.</span> <a href="http://apocrypha.org/1_maccabees/15-1.htm" title="Moreover Antiochus son of Demetrius the king sent letters from the isles of the sea unto Simon the priest and prince of the Jews, and to all the people;">1Ma 15:1</a>; Jos., <span class="ital">Ant.</span>, vi., 12, 1. But Weiss and Wendt both follow W.H[178] and R.V., and omit <span class="greekheb">ἱερεὺς καὶ ὁ</span> (so Blass [179]). <span class="greekheb">ὁ στρατ</span>. and <span class="greekheb">οἱ ἀρχ</span>. are thus closely united by the <span class="greekheb">τε καὶ</span>, inasmuch as the former in the flight of the prisoners had the greatest responsibility, and the <span class="greekheb">ἀρχ</span>. had occasioned the imprisonment, <a href="/acts/5-17.htm" title="Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,">Acts 5:17</a>. The <span class="greekheb">στρατ</span>. <span class="greekheb">τοῦ ἱερ</span>. was present at the meetings of the Sanhedrim, and assisted in their deliberations.—<span class="greekheb">ἀρχιερεῖς</span>: see on <a href="/acts/4-1.htm" title="And as they spoke to the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came on them,">Acts 4:1</a>. The word is probably used as including the heads of the twenty-four courses, those who had been high priests and still retained the title, and also those referred to in <a href="/acts/4-6.htm" title="And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.">Acts 4:6</a>. Schürer, <span class="ital">Jewish People</span>, div. ii., vol. i., 203–206; O. Holtzmann, <span class="ital">Neutestamentliche Zeitgeschichte</span>, p. 142.—<span class="greekheb">διηπόρουν</span>, <a href="/acts/2-12.htm" title="And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What means this?">Acts 2:12</a>, “were much perplexed,” R.V.—See on <span class="greekheb">περὶ αὐτῶν</span>, <span class="ital">sc.</span>, <span class="greekheb">λόγοι</span>: not the Apostles, as Alford and Meyer.—<span class="greekheb">τί ἂν γένοιτο τοῦτο</span>, “whereunto this might grow,” so A. and R.V. Blass interprets <span class="ital">quomodo hoc factum esse posset, cf.</span> <a href="/acts/10-17.htm" title="Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,">Acts 10:17</a>; <span class="ital">Grammatik des N. G.</span>, p. 173. St. Luke alone uses the optative with <span class="greekheb">ἄν</span> in the N.T., <span class="ital">cf.</span> <a href="/luke/1-62.htm" title="And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.">Luke 1:62</a>; <a href="/luke/6-11.htm" title="And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.">Luke 6:11</a>; <a href="/luke/9-46.htm" title="Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.">Luke 9:46</a>, <a href="/acts/5-24.htm" title="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.">Acts 5:24</a>; <a href="/acts/8-31.htm" title="And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.">Acts 8:31</a>; <a href="/acts/10-17.htm" title="Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,">Acts 10:17</a>; <a href="/acts/17-18.htm" title="Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seems to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached to them Jesus, and the resurrection.">Acts 17:18</a> (<a href="/luke/15-26.htm" title="And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.">Luke 15:26</a>; <a href="/luke/18-36.htm" title="And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.">Luke 18:36</a>, <a href="/acts/26-29.htm" title="And Paul said, I would to God, that not only you, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.">Acts 26:29</a>, doubtful text); Burton, <span class="ital">N. T. Moods and Tenses</span>, pp. 80 and 133; see also Viteau, <span class="ital">Le Grec du N. T.</span>, p. 66 (1893).<span class="p"><br /><br /></span>[178] Westcott and Hort’s <span class="ital">The New Testament in Greek:</span> Critical Text and Notes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span>[179] R(omana), in Blass, a first rough copy of St. Luke.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/cambridge/acts/5.htm">Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges</a></div><span class="bld">24</span>. <span class="ital">Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple</span>] The best MSS. have only <span class="ital">Now when the captain of the temple</span>. The word which in the A. V. is rendered <span class="ital">high priest</span> is simply = <span class="ital">priest</span>, but the like usage is common enough in Hebrew.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="ital">On the captain of the temple</span>, see <a href="/acts/4-1.htm" title="And as they spoke to the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came on them,">Acts 4:1</a>; and on <span class="ital">chief priests</span>, <a href="/acts/4-23.htm" title="And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.">Acts 4:23</a>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="ital">heard these things</span>] Better, <span class="ital">these words</span>. It refers simply to the report which the officers had just brought back.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="ital">they doubted of them whereunto this would grow</span>] i.e. they were at a loss about what was said, and did not know what step to take next. It is worthy of notice that when the Apostles are brought before them in the end, the magistrates avoid all questions about how they had been released. They clearly wished to have no more testimony to the supernatural powers which had been so often manifested in connection with Jesus and His followers. Caiaphas and his party could not be ignorant how Jesus Himself had risen out of His grave to the great terror of the Jewish guard set over it. With the opinions these authorities held, we can quite understand their perplexity and their silence on the subject, at all events before the disciples and the multitude.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/bengel/acts/5.htm">Bengel's Gnomen</a></div><a href="/acts/5-24.htm" title="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.">Acts 5:24</a>. <span class="greekheb">Διηπόρουν</span>, <span class="ital">they were perplexed</span>) The world, in harassing the servants of God, involves itself in countless perplexities, and attributes all the blame to them: ch. <a href="/acts/12-18.htm" title="Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.">Acts 12:18</a>, <a href="/acts/16-20.htm" title="And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,">Acts 16:20</a>, <a href="/acts/17-6.htm" title="And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brothers to the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come here also;">Acts 17:6</a>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="pul" id="pul"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/acts/5.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 24.</span> - The <span class="accented">captain of the temple</span> for <span class="accented">the high priest and the captain</span>, etc., A.V. and T.R.; <span class="accented">words</span> for <span class="accented">things</span>, A.V.; <span class="accented">were much perplexed concerning them</span> for <span class="accented">doubted of them</span>, A.V. <span class="cmt_word">The captain of the temple</span>, etc. Meyer, followed by Alford, retains the T.R., in which the word for the high priest is <span class="greek">ὁ ἱερεὺς</span>. It is true that this word occurs nowhere else in the New Testament for "the high priest." But in the Old Testament <span class="hebrew">כֹהֵן</span> is very frequently used to designate the high priest, as <a href="/exodus/29-30.htm">Exodus 29:30</a>; <a href="/exodus/35-19.htm">Exodus 35:19</a>; <a href="/numbers/3-32.htm">Numbers 3:32</a>; <a href="/2_chronicles/22-11.htm">2 Chronicles 22:11</a>; <a href="/2_kings/22-10.htm">2 Kings 22:10</a>; <a href="/1_kings/1-8.htm">1 Kings 1:8</a>, etc.; and in such places is represented by <span class="greek">ἱερεὺς</span> in the LXX. So that St. Luke may very probably have used it here where the context made the meaning clear, and where he intended to use the word <span class="greek">ἀρχιερεῖς</span> for "the chief priests." For the <span class="accented">captain</span>, see above (<a href="/acts/4-1.htm">Acts 4:1</a>, note). He was especially interested as being, probably, the officer who had arrested the apostles the day before. <span class="cmt_word">Were much perplexed concerning</span>. The verb (<span class="greek">διαπορέω</span>), which only occurs in the New Testament here and <a href="/acts/2-12.htm">Acts 2:12, 10</a>:17, <a href="/luke/9-7.htm">Luke 9:7</a>, and (in the middle voice) <a href="/luke/24-4.htm">Luke 24:4</a>, means properly "to be in doubt which road to take," hence generally to be in doubt, perplexity. <span class="cmt_word">Them</span> may apply either to the <span class="accented">words</span>, the strange things just reported to them, or to the <span class="accented">apostles</span> about whom the things were reported. It seems most natural to refer it to the <span class="accented">words.</span> They were in doubt and perplexity as to what it would all grow to. Acts 5:24<a name="vws" id="vws"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/vws/acts/5.htm">Vincent's Word Studies</a></div>They doubted (διηπόρουν)<p>See on <a href="/luke/9-5.htm">Luke 9:5</a>. Rev., were much perplexed, giving the force of διά, thoroughly at a loss. 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