Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Acts 5:40

"And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles unto them, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go." — Acts 5:40 (ASV)

Gamaliel’s wise counsel here prevailed to some extent among his Sanhedrin colleagues and held back the worst of Sadducean intentions, though it did not entirely divert their wrath. Thus the apostles were flogged (probably with the severe beating of thirty-nine stripes), were warned that the ban against teaching in the name of Jesus was still in effect, and were then released.

Luke ends his account of the apostles’ second appearance before the Sanhedrin with a brief summary that speaks of their rejoicing and continued ministry. It is a statement that has nuances of defiance, confidence, and victory; and in many ways it gathers together all Luke has set forth from 2:42 on.