Acts 5:15
in Acts 5As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
insomuch that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that, as Peter came by, at the least his shadow might overshadow some one of them.
KJV
Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
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This verse in Acts 5
Commentary
13 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Insomuch - So that. This should be connected with Act 5:12. Many miracles were performed by the apostles, “insomuch, etc.” They brought forth - The people, or the friends of the sick, brought them forth. Beds - κλινῶν klinōn. This word denotes usually the “soft” and “valuable” beds on which the rich commonly lay. And it means that the rich, as well as the poor, were laid in the path of Peter and the other apostles. Couches - κραββάτων krabatōn.
This site's exposition
people brought the sick
on Acts 5:15-16
The sick are laid in the streets for Peter's shadow to fall on them, and all brought from the towns around Jerusalem were healed. The healing is the Lord's, as at the temple gate, where Peter healed in the name of Jesus (3:6).
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
Wilt thou that I show thee this also from the Apostles more obviously to the sense. Consider Paul, whose garments wrought: Peter, whose very shadows were mighty. For had they not borne a King's image and their radiancy been unapproachable, their garments and shadows had not wrought so mightily. For the garments of a king are terrible even to robbers. Wouldest thou see this beaming even through the body? "Looking steadfastly," said he, "upon the face of Stephen, they saw it as it had been the face of an angel." But this was nothing to the glory flashing within. For what Moses had upon his countenance, that did these carry about with them on their souls, yea rather even far more. For that of Moses indeed was more obvious to the senses, but this was incorporeal.
"Insomuch that they brought out into the streets their impotent folk, and laid them upon couches and beds, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them." For Peter was the wonderful one, and he to whom they more gave heed both because of his public harangue, the first and the second and the third, and because of the miracle; for he it was that wrought the miracle, the first, the second, the third: for the present miracle was twofold: first, the convicting the thoughts of the heart, and next the inflicting of death at his word of command. "That at the least the shadow of Peter passing by," etc. This had not occurred in the history of Christ; but see here what He had told them actually coming to pass, that "they which believe on Me, the works that I do shall they do also; and greater works than these shall they do." Great faith, surpassing what had been shown in the case of Christ. How comes this? Because Christ declared: "And greater works than these shall he do, because I go unto My Father." And these things the people do, while the Apostles remain there, and are not moving about from place to place: also from other places they were all bringing their sick on beds and couches: and from all quarters accrued to them fresh tribute of wonder; from them that believed, from them that were healed, from him that was punished; from their boldness of speech towards those their adversaries, from the virtuous behavior of the believers: for certainly the effect produced was not owing to the miracles only.
We dwell in the church on earth, which, no one may doubt, signifies a heavenly [church]; but that is more truly [the church] which, at rest above the stars, is called celestial and high. This [earthly church], which is seen in the brief career of …
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 Medieval Church1 voice
So that as Peter came along, at least his shadow might fall on some of them and they would be healed. At that time, Peter visibly raised the sick with the shadow of his body, and even now he does not cease to strengthen the …
6 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
In Christ's time, it did not happen that the sick received healings in the streets and from a shadow. And if "no one dared join them," then how does healing occur in this case? This was the work of the One Who said: "He who …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
12 ), no doubt both being with an actual intention in the minds of the apostles thus to heal; so that it is absurd to infer hence a healing virtue in the relics of saints that are dead and gone; we read not of any cured by the relics of Christ himself, after he was gone, as certainly we should if there had been any such thing.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-citation-number+unbalanced-parens
Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets,.... These words are to be read in connection with the former part of the twelfth verse.
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 Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
into the streets--"in every street." on beds and couches--The words denote the softer couches of the rich and the meaner cribs of the poor [BENGEL]. shadow of Peter . . . might overshadow some of them--Compare Ac 19:12; Now the predicted greatness of Peter (Mt 16:18), as the directing spirit of the early Church, was at its height.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
Insomuch that they brought forth the sick - This verse is a continuation of the subject begun in the 12th. The following is the order in which all these verses should be read, from the 11th to the 15th. Act 5:11. And great fear came upon all the Church, and upon as many as heard these things. Act 5:13. And of the rest durst no man join himself to them; but the people magnified them: Act 5:14. And believers were the more added to the Lord, both men and women. Act 5:12. (last clause.) And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch. Act 5:12. (first clause.) And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; Act 5:15. Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, etc., etc. How these different verses and clauses of verses, got so intermingled and confounded as they are now in our common text, I cannot tell; but the above will appear at once to be the natural order in which they should be placed. That - the shadow of Peter passing by - I cannot see all the miraculous influence here that others profess to see. The people who had seen the miracles wrought by the apostles pressed with their sick to share the healing benefit: as there must have been many diseased people, it is not likely that the apostles, who generally addressed such persons, prayed and used imposition of hands, could reach all those that were brought to them, as fast as the solicitude of their friends could wish. As, therefore, they could not get Peter or the other apostles, personally, to all their sick, they thought if they placed them on that side of the way where the shadow was projected, (the sun probably now declining, and consequently the shadow lengthening), they should be healed by the shadow of the man passing over them, in whose person such miraculous powers were lodged. […]
The words behind it
23 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὥστε | hoste | so as | G5620 → | 83 times |
| καὶ | kai | even | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| εἰς | eis | into | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| τὰς | tas | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πλατείας | plateias | streets | G4116 → | |
| ἐκφέρειν | ekpherein | to bring out | G1627 → | 8 times |
| τοὺς | tous | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀσθενεῖς | astheneis | sick | G772 → | 26 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τιθέναι | tithenai | to put [them] | G5087 → | 100 times |
| ἐπὶ | epi | on | G1909 → | 883 times |
| κλιναρίων | klinarion | cots | ||
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| κραβάττων, | krabatton | mats, | G2895 → | |
| ἵνα | ina | that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| ἐρχομένου | erchomenou | when is coming | G2064 → | 628 times |
| Πέτρου | petrou | Peter | G4074 → | 155 times |
| κἂν | kan | at least | G2532 →G1437 → | 352 times |
| ἡ | he | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| σκιὰ | skia | shadow | G4639 → | |
| ἐπισκιάσῃ | episkiase | shall envelop | G1982 → | |
| τινὶ | tini | some | G5100 → | 528 times |
| αὐτῶν. | auton | of them. | G846 → | 5565 times |
ὥστεso as
hosteG5620 →83 times
καὶeven
kaiG2532 →9120 times
εἰςinto
eisG1519 →1755 times
τὰςthe
tasG3588 →19766 times
πλατείαςstreets
plateiasG4116 →
ἐκφέρεινto bring out
ekphereinG1627 →8 times
τοὺςthe
tousG3588 →19766 times
ἀσθενεῖςsick
astheneisG772 →26 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τιθέναιto put [them]
tithenaiG5087 →100 times
ἐπὶon
epiG1909 →883 times
κλιναρίωνcots
klinarion
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
κραβάττων,mats,
krabattonG2895 →
ἵναthat
inaG2443 →668 times
ἐρχομένουwhen is coming
erchomenouG2064 →628 times
ΠέτρουPeter
petrouG4074 →155 times
κἂνat least
ἡthe
heG3588 →19766 times
σκιὰshadow
skiaG4639 →
ἐπισκιάσῃshall envelop
episkiaseG1982 →
τινὶsome
tiniG5100 →528 times
αὐτῶν.of them.
autonG846 →5565 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
John 14:12Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I am doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
it leads to
- Acts 19:12
so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and the diseases and evil spirits left them.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Matthew 21:21
“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain,…
- Mark 16:17
And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
- Luke 10:17–19
The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name.”
- Acts 16:18
She continued this for many days. Eventually Paul grew so aggravated that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” And…
- Acts 19:12
Through
Matthew 9:21She said to herself, “If only I touch His cloak, I will be healed.”
it leads to
- Mark 5:26–33
She had borne much agony under the care of many physicians and had spent all she had, but to no avail. Instead, her condition had only grown worse.
- Luke 8:45–47
“Who touched Me?” Jesus asked. But they all denied it. “Master,” said Peter, “the people are crowding and pressing against You.”
- Mark 5:26–33
Through
Matthew 14:36and begged Him just to let them touch the fringe of His cloak. And all who touched Him were healed.
it leads to
- Luke 6:19
The entire crowd was trying to touch Him, because power was coming from Him and healing them all.
- Luke 6:19
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies11
About Acts
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on Acts; Arator, ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 1; Bede, Commentary on Acts; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles; John Chrysostom, Homily on 2 Corinthians 7; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 12; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.