Acts 4:15
But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,
Original Language Analysis
κελεύσαντες
when they had commanded
G2753
κελεύσαντες
when they had commanded
Strong's:
G2753
Word #:
1 of 10
"hail"; to incite by word, i.e., order
αὐτοὺς
them
G846
αὐτοὺς
them
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
3 of 10
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
5 of 10
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
συνεδρίου
the council
G4892
συνεδρίου
the council
Strong's:
G4892
Word #:
6 of 10
a joint session, i.e., (specially), the jewish sanhedrin; by analogy, a subordinate tribunal
ἀπελθεῖν
to go aside
G565
ἀπελθεῖν
to go aside
Strong's:
G565
Word #:
7 of 10
to go off (i.e., depart), aside (i.e., apart) or behind (i.e., follow), literally or figuratively
συνέβαλον
they conferred
G4820
συνέβαλον
they conferred
Strong's:
G4820
Word #:
8 of 10
to combine, i.e., (in speaking) to converse, consult, dispute, (mentally) to consider, (by implication) to aid, (personally) to join, attack
Historical Context
Jewish legal procedure required accusers and accused to remain present during deliberation. The council's violation of their own law demonstrated desperation - they had no legal case but sought political solution. This pattern of secret counsel against God's anointed fulfilled Psalm 2:2.
Questions for Reflection
- How does truth's cause benefit from open examination while error requires secrecy?
- What does the council's procedural violations reveal about power's corruption when opposing God?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
The command to 'put them forth out of the council' while they 'conferred among themselves' reveals corrupt deliberation - excluding the accused from defense violates justice. The Greek 'symballō' (conferred) suggests adversarial discussion seeking strategy, not truth. This scene parallels Jesus' trial (Mark 14:55) where the same council sought false testimony. Truth fears examination; lies require secrecy.