SEV Biblia, Chapter 5:17
¶ Entonces levantndose el príncipe de los sacerdotes, y todos los que estaban con l, (que es la secta de los saduceos,) se llenaron de celo;
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 5:17
Verse 17. The high priest-and-the sect of the Sadducees] airesiv twn saddoukaiwn, The heresy of the Sadducees. In this place, as well as in several others, the word airesiv, heresy, has no evil meaning in itself; it is a word of distinction, and may receive either a good or bad colouring from the persons or opinions designated by it. It signifies a sect or party, whether good or bad, distinguished from any other sect. airesiv, heresy, comes from airew, I choose, and was anciently applied to the different sects of the heathen philosophers, the members of each sect having chosen their own in preference to all the others. It has been applied among ecclesiastical writers in the same way-when a man chooses one party of Christians, in preference to others, to be his companions in the way of salvation; and he chooses them and their creed and Christian discipline, because he believes the whole to be more consistent with the oracles of God than any of the rest. The Church of Rome has thought proper to attach a very bad meaning to this innocent word, and then apply it to all those who can neither credit her transubstantiation, depend on her purgatory, nor worship her relics. A heretic, in her acceptation, is one who is not a papist, and, because not a papist, utterly out of the way and out of the possibility of being saved. These persons should recollect that, by a then persecuting brother, St. Paul, all the apostles, and the whole Church of Christ, were termed nazwraiwn airesiv, the heresy of the Nazarenes, chap. xxiv. 5; and it was after the way which the persecuting Jews called heresy that St. Paul and the rest of the apostles worshipped the God of their fathers, chap. xxiv. 14; and it was according to the strictest HERESY in the Jewish Church, akiribestathn airesin, that St. Paul lived before his conversion, chap. xxvi. 5; and we find, from chap. xxviii. 22, that the whole Church of Christ was termed this heresy, tauthv airesewv, and this by persons who intended no reproach, but wished simply to distinguish the Christians from scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, &c. Heresy therefore, in its first acceptation, signifies simply a choice: afterwards it was applied to designate all those persons who made the same choice; and hence the word sect and it became synonymous: in process of time it was applied to those professing Christianity who made, in some cases, a different choice as to some article of faith, or form of worship, from those which had obtained in that part of the Church with which they had been before connected. The majority, from whom they became thus separated, spoke evil of them, and treated them ill, because they presumed to choose for themselves on the foundation of the Holy Scriptures; and because they would take nothing for the truth of God that was not accredited from heaven. Thus, when the people now called Protestants, began to examine their creed according to the Holy Scriptures, and, in consequence of this examination, left out auricular confession, indulgences, the priests' power to forgive sins, adoration of saints, angels, and relics, purgatory, and the doctrine of transubstantiation, because they could not find them in the word of God, the papists called them heretics, by which they meant, in opposition to the meaning of the word, persons holding damnable errors; and, as such, they persecuted, burnt, and destroyed them wherever they had power. Now be it known to these persecutors, that the Protestants still choose to reject opinions and practices which they know to be unscriptural, absurd, and superstitious; and which they have a thousand times demonstrated to be such: and, on this ground, may they still be HERETICS! Were filled with indignation.] zhlou, With zeal. zhlov, from zew, to be hot, and la or lian, very much, signifies a vehement affection or disposition of the mind, which, according to its object, is either good or bad, laudable or blamable. Its meaning in this place is easily discerned; and not improperly translated indignation, in our version. We need not be surprised that the Sadducees were filled with indignation, because the apostles proclaimed the resurrection of Christ, and, through that, the general resurrection, which was diametrically opposed to their doctrine; for they denied the possibility of a resurrection, and believed not in the being of either angel or spirit; nor did they allow of the existence of a spiritual world. See on chap. iv. 2.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 17. Then the high priest rose up , etc.] Annas, or rather Caiaphas; (See Gill on Acts 4:6) he having heard what miracles were wrought by the apostles, and what additions were made to them, rose up from his seat and went out of the sanhedrim, in great haste, and in much wrath and passion: and all they that were with him ; in council, that were of his kindred or his party, as John and Alexander, and others, ( Acts 4:6) which is the sect of the Sadducees ; who denied the resurrection of the dead; which doctrine the apostles preached; and this made the high priest and his party very uneasy; whence it seems that the then high priest was a Sadducee, and also the sanhedrim at that time, and which was sometimes the case. Great care indeed was taken of an high priest, that he should not be a Sadducee; on the eve of the day of atonement they always swore the high priest, lest he should be a Sadducee, that he would make no innovation in what was ordered him; and particularly that he would not put the incense upon the fire without, and then carry it in a censor into the most holy place, as the Sadducees understood f201 , ( Leviticus 16:3). But notwithstanding all their care, sometimes they had a Sadducee for an high priest; we read of one John, an high priest, who ministered in that office fourscore years, and at last became a Sadducee f202 . And sometimes a sanhedrim consisted only of Sadducees: hence we read of yqwd[ l yd tyb , a sanhedrim of Sadducees f203 ; and such an one was this; and therefore it is not to be wondered at what follows, and they were filled with indignation ; or zeal, for Sadducism; and which was a blind zeal, and not according to knowledge: or with envy at the apostles for the miracles done by them, and because of the success that attended them; fearing lest, should they go on at this rate, their religion and authority would come to nothing. Sadducism now seemed greatly to prevail among men in power; and the Jews say f204 , the son of David will not come until the whole government is turned to the opinion of the Sadducees.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 17-25 - There is no prison so dark, so strong, but God can visit his people i it, and, if he pleases, fetch them out. Recoveries from sickness releases out of trouble, are granted, not that we may enjoy the comforts of life, but that God may be honoured with the services of ou life. It is not for the preachers of Christ's gospel to retire int corners, as long as they can have any opportunity of preaching in the great congregation. They must preach to the lowest, whose souls are a precious to Christ as the souls of the greatest. Speak to all, for all are concerned. Speak as those who resolve to stand to it, to live an die by it. Speak all the words of this heavenly, divine life, i comparison with which the present earthly life does not deserve the name. These words of life, which the Holy Ghost puts into your mouth The words of the gospel are the words of life; words whereby we may be saved. How wretched are those who are vexed at the success of the gospel! They cannot but see that the word and power of the Lord ar against them; and they tremble for the consequences, yet they will go on.
Greek Textus Receptus
αναστας 450 5631 V-2AAP-NSM δε 1161 CONJ ο 3588 T-NSM αρχιερευς 749 N-NSM και 2532 CONJ παντες 3956 A-NPM οι 3588 T-NPM συν 4862 PREP αυτω 846 P-DSM η 3588 T-NSF ουσα 5607 5752 V-PXP-NSF αιρεσις 139 N-NSF των 3588 T-GPM σαδδουκαιων 4523 N-GPM επλησθησαν 4130 5681 V-API-3P ζηλου 2205 N-GSM
Robertson's NT Word Studies
5:17 {Which is the sect of the Sadducees} (he ousa hairesis twn saddoukaiwn). Literally, "the existing sect of the Sadducees" or "the sect which is of the Sadducees," h being the article, not the relative. hairesis means a choosing, from haireomai, to take for oneself, to choose, qen an opinion chosen or tenet (possibly #2Pe 2:1), qen parties or factions (#Gal 5:20; 1Co 11:19; possibly #2Pe 2:1). It is applied here to the Sadducees; to the Pharisees in #Ac 15:5; 26:5; to the Christians in #24:5-14; 28:22. Already Luke has stated that the Sadducees started the persecution of Peter and John (#Ac 4:1f.). Now it is extended to "the apostles" as a whole since Christianity has spread more rapidly in Jerusalem than before it began.
