Why did the religious leaders in Acts 5 want to kill Peter and the apostles?
In Acts 5, the religious leaders were cut to the heart when they heard Peter and the apostles proclaim the truth. Because religionists hate the truth and have only one way to handle enemies—kill them—they sought to slay the apostles.
Les explains that in Acts 5:33, when the religious leaders heard Peter and the eleven, they were cut to the heart. The Spirit was working even on these leaders, but religionists hate the truth and have only one way to deal with enemies: kill them and get rid of them. Les stresses that Scripture never uses “religion” in a good way; Paul’s profit in the Jews’ religion was a bad thing. So when these leaders realized the truth Peter and the eleven proclaimed, their only option was to kill them, and they sought to slay them. Gamaliel then stood up as a level-headed Pharisee and doctor of the law, having the apostles put out for a little space and warning Israel to take heed what they intended to do.