5:21a

At daybreak the apostles entered the temple courts as they had been told: The Greek is more literally “and, having heard, they entered the temple at daybreak.” The words “having heard” refers to what the angel told them in 5:20. It indicates that the apostles had heard and were ready to obey what the angel told them as soon as the gates to the temple courts were opened at daybreak.

Here is another way to translate this clause:

After hearing that, they entered the temple courts at dawn

At daybreak: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as daybreak refers to the time when the sun begins to rise above the horizon, or any time near to that time. Here are some other ways to translate this:

at dawn (Good News Translation)
-or-
when the sun was coming up

the temple courts: The Greek is “the temple” but refers to the temple area, as in 5:20. See how you translated this phrase there.

5:21b

began to teach: The Greek tense of the word teach indicates ongoing action. They were teaching over the next days and weeks. But the apostles were also teaching earlier (4:2, 18). Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

began again to teach

Some languages can imply an ongoing action with the simple past or similar tense. For example:

and taught (Revised Standard Version)

the people: The Berean Standard Bible adds these words to make clear whom the apostles were teaching. Some languages would not need to add them for the correct meaning.

Paragraph 5:21c–24

5:21c

When the high priest and his associates arrived: This happened on the same day as the apostles beginning to preach again (5:21b). For example:

⌊That day,⌋ when the high priest and his associates arrived

This event has not been mentioned before. In some languages it is more natural to omit the word When. You will then need to add “and” after arrived. For example:

⌊That day,⌋ the high priest and his associates arrived and

the high priest and his associates: The phrase the high priest and his associates is the same group as in 5:17a. See how you translated it there.

arrived: Here this word probably refers to the place where the Sanhedrin usually met.

5:21d

they convened: This phrase indicates that the high priest and his associates sent a message to all the men who belong to the Sanhedrin, for them to gather for a meeting. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

they summoned (NET Bible)
-or-
they called…to meet/gather

the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel: There are two ways to interpret the connection between the Sanhedrin and the full assembly of the elders of Israel here:

(1) The phrase the full assembly of the elders of Israel explains the phrase the Sanhedrin. For example:

the Sanhedrin, the full Council of the Israelite nation, (Revised English Bible)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, English Standard Version, New Living Translation (2004), God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition)

(2) The full assembly of the elders of Israel was a separate group from the Sanhedrin. For example:

the council and all the senate of Israel (Revised Standard Version)

(Revised Standard Version, King James Version, New Century Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because we know of no document of that time that supports two groups here (interpretation (2)).

Sanhedrin: This word refers to a group of people who made decisions that affected all or some of the Jews. In the New Testament it is often used as a name for the Jewish ruling council, as here. They made laws and set political policy (all subject to the Roman governor). They made decisions relating to the temple and to the worship there. This group of Jewish leaders also were the judges in the main court of the Jews. You may want to:

• Translate this word as a name. You may then want to explain its meaning in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:

This word refers to the Jewish ruling council.

• Translate the meaning of the name. For example:

council (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
highest Jewish council of leaders
-or-
the Jewish ruling group

5:21e

sent to the jail for the apostles: In Greek this sentence is more literally “they sent to the jail for them to be brought.” It indicates that the high priest and his associates sent someone to bring the apostles from the jail. Here are some other ways to translate this:

sent to the prison to have them brought (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
they sent orders to the prison to have the apostles brought before them (Good News Translation)

The Greek clause ‘to be brought’ is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

They sent some men to the jail to bring the apostles to them (New Century Version)

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