They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for Jesus’ name.
Parallel translations
- KJV And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
- BSB The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.
- NKJV So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.
- NASB So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.
- NLT The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus.
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 apostles leave rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer for Jesus' name. Suffering for Christ is received as an honor, not a defeat.
Overview
Their joy reflects Jesus' beatitude that those persecuted for His sake are blessed. They count shame for Christ as glory because they share in His sufferings. This response models the Christian's confidence that union with Christ transforms even disgrace into joy.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Jas 1:2Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations,
- 1 Pet 4:13–16But because you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, rejoice; that at the revelation of his glory you also may rejoice with exceeding joy.
- Luke 6:22Blessed are you when men shall hate you, and when they shall exclude and mock you, and throw out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake.
- Phil 1:29Because it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer on his behalf,
- John 15:21But all these things will they do to you for my name’s sake, because they don’t know him who sent me.
- Matt 5:10–12Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
- Isa 66:5Hear Yahweh’s word, you who tremble at his word: “Your brothers who hate you, who cast you out for my name’s sake, have said, ‘Let Yahweh be glorified, that we may see your joy;’ but it is those who shall be disappointed.
- 2 Cor 12:10Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.
- Heb 12:2looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
- Rom 5:3Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces perseverance;
- Heb 10:34For you both had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and an enduring one in the heavens.
- Acts 16:23–25When they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely,
- Isa 65:14Behold, my servants will sing for joy of heart, but you will cry for sorrow of heart, and will wail for anguish of spirit.
- Isa 61:10I will greatly rejoice in Yahweh! My soul will be joyful in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation. He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 5:41 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.