Acts 5:17
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,
Original Language Analysis
Ἀναστὰς
rose up
G450
Ἀναστὰς
rose up
Strong's:
G450
Word #:
1 of 16
to stand up (literal or figurative, transitive or intransitive)
τῶν
(which
G3588
τῶν
(which
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
3 of 16
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἀρχιερεὺς
the high priest
G749
ἀρχιερεὺς
the high priest
Strong's:
G749
Word #:
4 of 16
the high-priest (literally, of the jews; typically, christ); by extension a chief priest
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
5 of 16
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τῶν
(which
G3588
τῶν
(which
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
7 of 16
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
σὺν
that were with
G4862
σὺν
that were with
Strong's:
G4862
Word #:
8 of 16
with or together (but much closer than g3326 or g3844), i.e., by association, companionship, process, resemblance, possession, instrumentality, additi
αὐτῷ
him
G846
αὐτῷ
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
9 of 16
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
τῶν
(which
G3588
τῶν
(which
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
10 of 16
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
αἵρεσις
the sect
G139
αἵρεσις
the sect
Strong's:
G139
Word #:
12 of 16
properly, a choice, i.e., (specially) a party or (abstractly) disunion
τῶν
(which
G3588
τῶν
(which
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
13 of 16
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Σαδδουκαίων
of the Sadducees
G4523
Σαδδουκαίων
of the Sadducees
Strong's:
G4523
Word #:
14 of 16
a sadducaean (i.e., tsadokian), or follower of a certain heretical israelite
Cross References
Acts 13:45But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.Acts 7:9And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,Acts 17:5But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.1 Peter 2:1Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,Job 5:2For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one.Proverbs 27:4Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?Proverbs 14:30A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.Ecclesiastes 4:4Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.Matthew 27:18For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.John 12:10But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;
Historical Context
Sadducees controlled temple operations and high priesthood through Roman favor. Their theological denial of resurrection, angels, and spirits made apostolic preaching existentially threatening. The high priest's leadership (likely Caiaphas) showed coordinated establishment opposition to gospel movement.
Questions for Reflection
- How does gospel success often intensify opposition from established powers?
- What does Sadducees' jealousy teach about religious opposition's frequent motivation?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The intensified opposition - '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' - shows success provoking hostility. The Greek 'zēlos' (indignation) can mean jealousy or righteous zeal, here clearly jealous rage at apostles' influence. Identifying opposition as 'the sect of the Sadducees' emphasizes theological motivation - resurrection preaching undermined their doctrine. The phrase 'rose up' (Greek 'anastas') suggests mobilizing for action, foreshadowing arrest.