How do religionists deal with the truth and with their enemies?
According to the context, religionists always hate the truth; when confronted with it, they are cut to the heart but reject it. They have only one way to deal with their enemies: kill them and get rid of them. The religious leaders sought to slay Peter and the apostles.
Les explains that in Acts 5, Peter and the eleven are on trial before Israel’s religious leaders. When those leaders hear the truth, they are cut to the heart, showing the Spirit was working even on them. But instead of repenting, they follow religion’s pattern: religionists hate the truth and have only one way to deal with their enemies—kill them, get rid of them. Les notes that this book never uses the term religion in a good way; even Paul’s profit in the Jews by religion was a bad thing. These religious leaders, realizing what Peter and the eleven proclaimed, sought to slay them. Gamaliel, a level-headed Pharisee who had taught Paul, then urged the council to be careful.