Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
About daybreak (upo ton orqron). From ornumi, to stir up, to arouse, so the dawn (Luke 24:1; John 8:2). Old word, but in the N.T. only these three passages. "Under the dawn" or "about dawn." Sub lucem. The temple doors would be open for early worshippers and traffickers (John 2:14).
Taught (edidaskon). Imperfect active, began to teach.
The council (to sunedrion). The Sanhedrin.
The senate (thn gerousian). From gerwn, an old man, just as the Latin senatus is from senex, old. Like the gerontev in Homer and the Elder Statesmen in Japan. Apparently the senate of the people were also part of the Sanhedrin and the use of "and" (kai) is explanatory and adds this item in particular. Page thinks that this group of elders were not members of the Sanhedrin at all.
To the prison house (eiv to desmwthrion), another word for prison (thrhsiv dhmosia in verse Acts 5:18, h fulakh in verse Acts 5:19). See also verses 0:0-1:1. This from desmov, bond, and threw, to keep, place where bound men are kept.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Acts 5:21:
Matthew 11:2
John 8:2
Acts 16:26
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