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Acts 5:26

in Acts 5

At that point, the captain went with the officers and brought the apostles—but not by force, for fear the people would stone them.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them, but without violence; for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned.

KJV

Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.

This verse in Acts 5

Commentary

9 notes on this verse

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on Acts · Written before 1107.

After this, they should have feared God, who was guarding the apostles like nestlings from their hands. And the double securing of the prison, that is, both the seal and the men, and indeed everything was sufficient to convince them that what had happened was …

This site's exposition

did not find them there

on Acts 5:22-26

The officers find the jail securely locked with the guards at the doors, yet no one inside. The captain brings the apostles back without force, for fear the people would stone them, the crowd's favor now a shield.

This site's exposition

fear the people would stone them

Barnes notes that the apostles came willingly, since they meant to answer the charge and bear witness again. Theophylact says the rulers should have feared God instead, who guarded the apostles like nestlings from their hands. The crowd now shielded the apostles.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers2 voices

A commentator

Oecumenius

Commentary on Acts · Written before 550.

For the deliverance by the angel of the prison proved to the apostles a comfort, and to the Jews a benefit. It deceived the Jews, so that first, as I said, they would be thrown into perplexity, and if they wished they themselves would also …

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 13 · Written before 407.

proposed

O the folly of the men! "They feared," saith he, "the multitude." Why, how had the multitude helped the Apostles? When they ought to have feared that God Who was continually delivering them like winged creatures out of their power, instead of that, "they feared the multitude!"

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

Then went the captain with the offcers,....

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

Those that pretend to an inspiration of the Spirit, in imposing upon the church their own fancies, either in opinion or practice--that say they are moved from above when they are carried on by their pride, covetousness, or affectation of dominion, belie the Holy Ghost. (2.) But we read it, to lie unto the Holy Ghost, which reading is countenanced by

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

Brought them without violence - On receiving the information mentioned above, proper officers were sent to seize and bring them before the council.
1 more voice on this verse

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Without violence - Not by force; not by “binding” them. Compare Mat 27:2. The command of the Sanhedrin was sufficient to secure their presence, as they did not intend to refuse to answer for any alleged violation of the laws. Besides, their going before the council would give them another noble opportunity to bear witness to the truth of the gospel. Christians, when charged with a violation of the laws of the land, should not refuse to answer, Act 25:11, “If I be an offender, or have committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die.” It is a part of our religion to yield obedience to all the just laws of the land, and to evince respect for all that are in authority, Rom 13:1-7. For they feared the people - The people were favorable to the apostles. If violence had been attempted, or they had been taken in a cruel and forcible manner, the consequence would have been tumults and bloodshed. In this way, also, the apostles showed that they were not disposed to excite tumult. Opposition by them would have excited commotion; and though “they” would have been rescued, yet they resolved to show that they were not obstinate, contumacious, or rebellious, but were disposed, as far as it could be done with a clear conscience, to yield obedience to the laws of the land,

The words behind it

18 Greek words

Every 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.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

The walk

8 stops

Each 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

    Matthew 26:5

    “But not during the feast,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”

    it leads to

    • Matthew 21:26

      But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the people, for they all regard John as a prophet.”

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • Matthew 27:24

      When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but that instead a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he…

    • Matthew 14:5

      Although Herod wanted to kill John, he was afraid of the people, because they regarded John as a prophet.

  • Through

    Acts 4:21

    After further threats they let them go. They could not find a way to punish them, because all the people were glorifying God for what had happened.

    it leads to

    • Matthew 21:46

      Although they wanted to arrest Him, they were afraid of the crowds, because the people regarded Him as a prophet.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • Luke 20:19

      When the scribes and chief priests realized that Jesus had spoken this parable against them, they sought to arrest Him that very hour. But they were afraid of the people.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • Luke 20:6

      But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.”

    • Luke 22:2

      and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death; for they feared the people.

  • Through

    Acts 5:13

    Although the people regarded them highly, no one else dared to join them.

    it leads to

    • Acts 2:47

      praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Where this verse is studied

About Acts

The Pentecost, El Greco, about 1600, Museo del Prado. Public domain.
The Pentecost, El Greco, about 1600, Museo del Prado. Public domain.
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on Acts; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 13; 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.