Acts 5:26
in Acts 5At 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.
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This verse in Acts 5
Commentary
9 notes on this verseAfter 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
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 …
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,....
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
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
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Τότε | tote | Then | G5119 → | 160 times |
| ἀπελθὼν | apelthon | having gone | G565 → | 115 times |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| στρατηγὸς | strategos | captain | G4755 → | 10 times |
| σὺν | sun | with | G4862 → | 128 times |
| τοῖς | tois | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὑπηρέταις | huperetais | officers | G5257 → | 20 times |
| ἦγεν | egen | was bringing | G71 → | 68 times |
| αὐτοὺς | autous | them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| οὐ | ou | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| μετὰ | meta | with | G3326 → | 461 times |
| βίας, | bias | force, | G970 → | 3 times |
| ἐφοβοῦντο | ephobounto | they were afraid of | G5399 → | 95 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| λαὸν | laon | people | G2992 → | 141 times |
| μὴ | me | lest | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| λιθασθῶσιν.¶ | lithasthosin | they may be stoned. | G3034 → |
ΤότεThen
toteG5119 →160 times
ἀπελθὼνhaving gone
apelthonG565 →115 times
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
στρατηγὸςcaptain
strategosG4755 →10 times
σὺνwith
sunG4862 →128 times
τοῖςthe
toisG3588 →19766 times
ὑπηρέταιςofficers
huperetaisG5257 →20 times
ἦγενwas bringing
egenG71 →68 times
αὐτοὺςthem
autousG846 →5565 times
οὐnot
ouG3756 →1664 times
μετὰwith
metaG3326 →461 times
βίας,force,
biasG970 →3 times
ἐφοβοῦντοthey were afraid of
ephobountoG5399 →95 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
λαὸνpeople
laonG2992 →141 times
μὴlest
meG3361 →1066 times
λιθασθῶσιν.¶they may be stoned.
lithasthosinG3034 →
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
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.
- Matthew 21:26
Through
Acts 4:21After 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.
- Matthew 21:46
Through
Acts 5:13Although 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.
- Acts 2:47
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 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.
