Acts 5:14
in Acts 5Yet more and more believers were brought to the Lord—large numbers of both men and women.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
and believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women:
KJV
And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
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This verse in Acts 5
Commentary
9 notes on this verseAnd believers were the more added to the Lord,.... That is, to the church, as in Act 2:47 over which Christ was Lord and head; for they were added to the Lord before, by believing in him, when they gave up themselves to him, to be saved by him; and now to the apostles, and the church by the will of God; and this case of Ananias and Sapphira was so far from hindering persons from coming into the church, that there were greater additions made to it than before, even of such as were true believers in Christ.
This site's exposition
The apostles performed many signs
on Acts 5:12-14
The people regarded the believers highly, yet no one else dared to join them, the fear of verse 11 spreading outward. Growth is still counted in believers, large numbers of both men and women.
This site's exposition
both men and women
Chrysostom notes that Luke stops counting here, for the believers had become a great multitude. Gill observes that the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira led to more additions to the church. Matthew Henry notes the attention given to women believers.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"There were," however, "the more added unto the Lord, believers, multitudes both of men and of women." "Believers were the more added unto the Lord, multitudes both of men and of women." Observe, how he now no longer tells the number of them that believe; at such a rate was the faith making way even to an immense multitude, and so widely was the Resurrection proclaimed. So then "the people magnified them:" but they were now no longer lightly to be despised as once they were: for in a little moment, at a single turn of the scale, such have been the effects produced by the fisherman and by the publican! Earth was become a heaven, for manner of life, for boldness of speech, for wonders, for all besides; like Angels were they looked upon with wonder: all unconcerned for ridicule, for threats, for perils: compassionate were they, and beneficent; some of them they succoured with money, and some with words, and some with healing of their bodies and of their souls; no kind of healing but they accomplished.
For he wishes to show this also in saying, "By the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people," and immediately adds, "and no one from the rest dared to join them"; that is, no one dared to approach them. …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
But, as among those that followed Christ while he was upon earth, so among those that believed on him after he went to heaven, great notice was taken of the good women.
The imprisonment of the apostles, and their miraculous discharge out of prison, with fresh orders to go on to preach the gospel, which they did, to the great vexation of their persecutors,
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
And believers were the more added to the Lord - Believers: 1. Those who credited the Divine mission of Christ. 2. That he was the Messiah. 3. That he died for their sins. 4. That he rose again. 5. That he ascended into heaven. 6. That he sent down the gift of the Holy Spirit. 7. That he ever appeared in the presence of God for them. 8. That it was he who gives repentance and remission of sins. And, 9. He by whom the world is to be judged.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
And believers - This is the name by which Christians were designated, because one of the main things that distinguished them was that they “believed” that Jesus was the Christ. It is also an incidental proof that none should join themselves to the church who are not “believers”; that is, who do not profess to be Christians in heart and in life. Were the more added - The effect of all these things was to increase the number of converts. Their persecutions, their preaching, and the judgment of God, “all” tended to impress the minds of the people, and to lead them to the Lord Jesus Christ. Compare Act 4:4. Though the judgment of God had the effect of deterring hypocrites from entering the church - though it produced awe and caution, yet still the number of true converts was increased. An effort to keep the church pure by wholesome discipline, and by cutting off unworthy members, however rich or honored, so far from weakening its true strength, has a tendency greatly to increase its numbers as well as its purity. People will not seek to enter a corrupt church, or regard it as worth any effort to be connected with a society that does not endeavor to be pure. Multitudes - Compare Act 4:4.
The words behind it
11 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| μᾶλλον | mallon | more | G3123 → | 81 times |
| δὲ | de | now | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| προσετίθεντο | prosetithento | were added | G4369 → | 18 times |
| πιστεύοντες | pisteuontes | believing | G4100 → | 237 times |
| τῷ | to | in the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κυρίῳ, | kurio | Lord, | G2962 → | 711 times |
| πλήθη | plethe | multitudes | G4128 → | 31 times |
| ἀνδρῶν | andron | of men | G435 → | 216 times |
| τε | te | both | G5037 → | 213 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| γυναικῶν, | gunaikon | women, | G1135 → | 211 times |
μᾶλλονmore
mallonG3123 →81 times
δὲnow
deG1161 →2765 times
προσετίθεντοwere added
prosetithentoG4369 →18 times
πιστεύοντεςbelieving
pisteuontesG4100 →237 times
τῷin the
toG3588 →19766 times
κυρίῳ,Lord,
kurioG2962 →711 times
πλήθηmultitudes
pletheG4128 →31 times
ἀνδρῶνof men
andronG435 →216 times
τεboth
teG5037 →213 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
γυναικῶν,women,
gunaikonG1135 →211 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Acts 2:47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
it leads to
- Acts 2:41
Those who embraced his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to the believers that day.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 16:5
So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.
- Acts 5:13–14
Although the people regarded them highly, no one else dared to join them.
- Acts 2:39
This promise belongs to you and your children and to all who are far off—to all whom the Lord our God will call to Himself.”
- 1 Corinthians 1:18
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
- Acts 2:41
Through
Acts 6:7So the word of God continued to spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly, and a great number of priests became obedient to the faith.
it leads to
- Acts 19:20
So the word of the Lord powerfully continued to spread and prevail.
- Acts 12:24
But the word of God continued to spread and multiply.
- Colossians 1:6
that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood the…
- Acts 19:20
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies20
- Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5)
- Hanged on a tree
- Holiness and Purity
- Integrity
- Daniel's Open Window
- Rejoice in the Lord Always
Show the next 6 titles
About Acts
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); J. A. Alexander, The Acts of the Apostles Explained; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 12; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts.