GoThe command to "go" is a directive from the angel of the Lord, emphasizing immediate action and obedience. This mirrors the Great Commission in
Matthew 28:19, where Jesus instructs His disciples to "go and make disciples of all nations." The urgency and authority of the command highlight the divine mandate to spread the Gospel.
Stand in the temple courts
The temple courts were the central place of worship and teaching for the Jewish people in Jerusalem. By instructing the apostles to stand there, the angel is directing them to the heart of Jewish religious life, where they would encounter both devout worshippers and religious leaders. This location is significant because it was the same place where Jesus taught and where early Christians gathered (Acts 2:46). It symbolizes the continuity of God's work from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant.
And tell the people
The apostles are commanded to speak to "the people," indicating the inclusive nature of the Gospel message. This directive aligns with the prophetic vision of Isaiah 61:1, where the servant of the Lord is anointed to proclaim good news to the poor. The focus on "the people" underscores the accessibility of the Gospel to all, not just the religious elite.
The full message
The "full message" refers to the complete Gospel, encompassing the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It contrasts with partial or distorted teachings and emphasizes the importance of conveying the entirety of God's redemptive plan. This echoes Paul's later emphasis on preaching "the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27).
Of this new life
The phrase "new life" signifies the transformative power of the Gospel, which brings spiritual rebirth and eternal life through Jesus Christ. This concept is central to Christian theology, as seen in John 3:3, where Jesus speaks of being "born again." The "new life" also reflects the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies about the renewal of God's people, such as Ezekiel 36:26-27, where God promises to give a new heart and spirit.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
The ApostlesThe primary figures in this passage, who are commanded by an angel to continue preaching the Gospel despite previous arrests and threats.
2.
The Angel of the LordA divine messenger who frees the apostles from prison and instructs them to continue their mission.
3.
The Temple CourtsThe location where the apostles are instructed to preach. This is a significant place for Jewish worship and teaching, symbolizing the heart of religious life in Jerusalem.
4.
The SanhedrinThe Jewish ruling council that had previously arrested the apostles for preaching about Jesus.
5.
The Message of New LifeRefers to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, emphasizing salvation and transformation through faith in Him.
Teaching Points
Obedience to God's CommandThe apostles' immediate response to the angel's command highlights the importance of obeying God's directives, even in the face of opposition.
Boldness in Proclaiming the GospelDespite threats, the apostles are instructed to preach openly. Believers today are called to share their faith courageously.
The Centrality of the Gospel MessageThe "full message of this new life" is central to Christian faith and practice. It is essential to understand and communicate the Gospel clearly.
Divine Intervention and GuidanceThe angel's appearance and instructions remind us that God actively guides and supports His people in fulfilling His purposes.
The Role of the Church in SocietyThe temple courts were a public space, indicating that the message of Christ is not confined to private belief but is to be shared publicly.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Acts 5:20?
2. How can we "tell the people the full message" in today's context?
3. Why is obedience to God's command in Acts 5:20 crucial for believers?
4. How does Acts 5:20 connect with the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20?
5. What challenges might we face when proclaiming the gospel as instructed in Acts 5:20?
6. How can Acts 5:20 inspire boldness in sharing our faith with others?
7. What does Acts 5:20 reveal about the early Christian mission and its urgency?
8. How does Acts 5:20 challenge believers to prioritize evangelism in their lives?
9. Why were the apostles instructed to speak in the temple according to Acts 5:20?
10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Acts 5?
11. What did Jesus inscribe in the sand?
12. What was Solomon's Porch?
13. (Acts 4:4) How historically credible is the claim that about five thousand people converted on the spot?
14. What explains inconsistencies between the Temple vision in Ezekiel 40 and other biblical Temple descriptions, such as in 1 Kings 6-7?What Does Acts 5:20 Mean
Go- The angel’s command mirrors the Lord’s marching orders to every believer. The word is active, urgent, and leaves no room for delay.
- Matthew 28:19: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…”—obedience is expected to be immediate and continual.
- Acts 8:4 shows scattered saints who “preached the word wherever they went,” proving that going is not optional but essential.
- Practical takeaway: obedience often begins with simple movement—stepping out of comfort and into God-directed action.
stand in the temple courts- “Stand” stresses visible, unwavering presence. They were to plant themselves where everyone could see and hear.
- Acts 3:1 tells of Peter and John already frequenting the temple; consistency in godly habits opens doors for gospel witness.
- 2 Chronicles 20:5 records Jehoshaphat standing “in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD,” showing that God’s messengers have long taken their stand in His house.
- Bold public proclamation, not secret Christianity, is the biblical norm.
and tell the people- The focus is people, not programs. The good news is a message that must be spoken.
- Romans 10:14 asks, “How can they hear without someone to preach?”—faith comes by hearing verbal testimony.
- Ezekiel 3:17 portrays the watchman who must warn; silence equals disobedience.
- Acts 10:42 records Peter commanded “to preach to the people,” highlighting divine expectation that words accompany works.
the full message- Partial truth breeds confusion; the angel insists on completeness.
- Acts 20:27: Paul declared, “I did not shrink from proclaiming to you the whole will of God.”
- 2 Timothy 4:2 urges, “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage,” covering every facet of gospel ministry.
- Jeremiah 26:2 shows the prophet commanded to “speak all the words I have commanded you; do not omit a word,” underscoring God’s desire for undiluted truth.
- Application: present both grace and repentance, promise and warning, Savior and Lord.
of this new life- The gospel is not mere philosophy—it births a brand-new life in Christ.
- John 3:3 speaks of being “born again,” introducing spiritual life where none existed.
- Romans 6:4: “Just as Christ was raised from the dead… we too may walk in newness of life.” Resurrection power fuels daily living.
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 promises, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation,” highlighting transformation, not reformation.
- 1 Peter 1:3 celebrates a “living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” grounding this new life in historical reality.
- Believers don’t merely add religion; they receive eternal life that starts now and stretches into forever.
summaryActs 5:20 calls every follower of Jesus to active obedience: move when God says go, take a visible stand in the public square, speak to real people, hold nothing back from the whole counsel of God, and proclaim the life-changing power found only in Christ. The verse models courageous, comprehensive evangelism—boldly lived and plainly spoken—so that others may enter the same vibrant new life we have received.
(20)
All the words of this life.--The use of the demonstrative pronoun is significant. The "life in Christ" which the Apostles preach is that eternal life which consists in knowing God (
John 17:1), and in which the angels are sharers.
Verse 20. - Go ye for
go, A.V. In the temple; not in the
house, but in the courts.
The words of this Life;
i.e. this life which is in Christ, whom ye preach, through his resurrection from the dead (comp.
John 6:68, "Thou hast the words of eternal life;" see too the whole chapter and
1 John 1:1-3).
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
“Go,Πορεύεσθε (Poreuesthe)Verb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4198: To travel, journey, go, die. standσταθέντες (stathentes)Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2476: A prolonged form of a primary stao stah'-o; to stand, used in various applications.inἐν (en)Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.theτῷ (tō)Article - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.temple courtsἱερῷ (hierō)Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 2411: Neuter of hieros; a sacred place, i.e. The entire precincts of the Temple.[and] tellλαλεῖτε (laleite)Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2980: A prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. Utter words.theτῷ (tō)Article - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.peopleλαῷ (laō)Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2992: Apparently a primary word; a people.theτὰ (ta)Article - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.fullπάντα (panta)Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.messageῥήματα (rhēmata)Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 4487: From rheo; an utterance, ; by implication, a matter or topic; with a negative naught whatever.ofτῆς (tēs)Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.thisταύτης (tautēs)Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it. [new] life.”Ζωῆς (Zōēs)Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 2222: Life, both of physical (present) and of spiritual (particularly future) existence. From zao; life.
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NT Apostles: Acts 5:20 Go stand and speak in the temple (Acts of the Apostles Ac)