Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Acts 5:31

"Him did God exalt with his right hand [to be] a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins." — Acts 5:31 (ASV)

By saying “Peter and the other apostles replied,” Luke suggests that Peter was the spokesman for the group of apostles on trial, with the others in some way indicating their agreement. Their response is hardly a reasoned defense but simply a reaffirmation of their position. As at the first trial (4:19), here they voice even more succinctly their noble principle, “We must obey God rather than men.” Also as at the first trial, the focus is on Jesus. “By hanging him on a tree” is a locution for crucifixion that stems from Dt 21:22–23 (cf. Acts 10:39; 13:29; Galatians 3:13 [quoting Dt 21:23]; 1 Peter 2:24). The titles “Prince” and “Savior” are Christological ascriptions rooted in the confessions of the early church and particularly associated with the NT themes of exaltation and Lordship.