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.
Parallel translations
- WEB Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these words, they were very perplexed about them and what might become of this.
- BSB When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this account, they were perplexed as to what was happening.
- NKJV Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the outcome would be.
- NASB 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.
- NLT When the captain of the Temple guard and the leading priests heard this, they were perplexed, wondering where it would all end.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The temple captain and chief priests are perplexed, fearing where this might lead. They sense events slipping beyond their control.
Overview
Their perplexity reveals leaders confronted by a power they cannot explain or contain. The worry about 'what might become of this' shows they grasp the threat to their authority. Their fear ironically confirms that God, not the council, is directing the course of events.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Acts 4:1And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,
- Acts 5:26Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
- Isa 9:7Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
- Acts 4:21So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.
- Dan 2:44–45And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
- Luke 22:4And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.
- John 11:47–48Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.
- Isa 53:1–2Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
- Mark 4:30–32And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?
- John 12:19The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.
- Acts 2:12And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
- Zech 6:12–13And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD:
- Acts 4:16–17Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.
- Luke 22:52Then 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?
- Dan 2:34–35Thou 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.
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 5:24 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.