Albert Barnes Commentary Acts 5:33

"But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and minded to slay them." — Acts 5:33 (ASV)

When they heard that. This refers to what the apostle Peter had said; namely, that they were guilty of murder, that Jesus was raised up, and that he still lived as the Messiah.

They were cut to the heart. The word used here properly denotes to cut with a saw. As applied to the mind, it means to be agitated with rage and indignation, as if wrath would seize the mind as a saw does wood, and tear it violently or agitate it severely.

It is commonly used in connection with the heart and means that the heart is violently agitated and torn with rage. . This word is not used elsewhere in the New Testament.

The reasons why they were so indignant were, undoubtedly:

1. Because the apostles had disregarded their command.
2. Because they charged them with murder.
3. Because they affirmed the doctrine of the resurrection of Jesus, and thus tended to overthrow the sect of the Sadducees.

The effect of the doctrines of the gospel is often to make people enraged.

Took counsel. The word rendered took counsel commonly denotes to will; then, to deliberate; and sometimes, to decree or to determine. It undoubtedly implies here that their minds were made up to do it, but probably the formal decree to put them to death had not yet been passed.