Acts 5 14

Acts 5:14 kjv

And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)

Acts 5:14 nkjv

And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,

Acts 5:14 niv

Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.

Acts 5:14 esv

And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,

Acts 5:14 nlt

Yet more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord ? crowds of both men and women.

Acts 5 verses

Acts 5 14 Meaning

Acts 5:14 describes the continued, significant growth of the early Christian community in Jerusalem. Despite internal discipline and external threats, an increasing number of people, spanning all demographic groups, believed and were united with the Lord Jesus Christ. This demonstrates God's sovereign hand in expanding His church.

Acts 5 14 Context

Acts chapter 5 continues the narrative of the early Jerusalem church, emphasizing both divine power and purity. The immediate preceding context (Acts 5:1-11) details the solemn judgment upon Ananias and Sapphira for their deception, an act that instilled "great fear" in the entire church and on all who heard of it. Following this, Acts 5:12-13 describes the apostles performing many "signs and wonders" in Solomon's Portico, where no one else dared to join them in a false sense, yet people highly esteemed them. Verse 14, therefore, serves as a direct consequence of these events: the Church, purified by judgment and empowered by supernatural works, saw a true surge of authentic believers. It illustrates that divine holiness, even in severe forms, can pave the way for genuine, Spirit-driven growth. The broader historical context is Jerusalem in the decades immediately following Jesus' ascension, a time of intense Jewish religiosity under Roman rule, where the Christian message was both appealing and fiercely opposed by the established religious authorities.

Acts 5 14 Word analysis

• And (Καὶ - Kai): Serves as a connector, linking the powerful events of the preceding verses (judgment on Ananias and Sapphira, apostolic miracles) directly to the consequence of increased conversions. It implies that these displays of divine power and purity were foundational to the ongoing growth.
• more than ever (ἔτι μᾶλλον - eti mallon): Literally "still more," or "even more so." This comparative phrase highlights an acceleration in growth beyond previous stages (e.g., Acts 2:41, 4:4). It suggests that the church was experiencing an exponential or intensifying numerical expansion despite, or perhaps because of, the fearful respect inspired by God's judgments and power.
• believers (πιστεύοντες - pisteuontes): A present active participle meaning "those who are continually believing." This emphasizes the active, ongoing nature of their faith. It denotes a settled and committed trust in Jesus as Lord, not a fleeting interest or mere intellectual assent.
• were added (προσετίθεντο - prosetithento): An imperfect tense, passive voice verb meaning "they were continually being added" or "they began to be added." The imperfect tense points to continuous or repeated action, indicating sustained growth over a period. Crucially, the passive voice implies God's direct agency in this growth; these people were being added by a divine power, not simply choosing to join an organization on their own initiative.
• to the Lord (τῷ Κυρίῳ - tō Kyriō): Refers to Jesus Christ, affirmed as Lord. To be "added to the Lord" signifies more than joining a group; it implies a deep personal union, allegiance, and covenant relationship with Him. This highlights the Christ-centered nature of the new community.
• multitudes (πλήθη - plēthē): This term (plural of plēthos) denotes a large assembly or throng. It signifies the substantial scale of conversions, underscoring that the church's expansion was not limited to a few individuals but encompassed a vast number of people.
• of both men and women (ἀνδρῶν τε καὶ γυναικῶν - andrōn te kai gynaikōn): This explicit mention emphasizes the universal and inclusive reach of the gospel message. In ancient cultures, where women's public roles or numbers in assemblies might have been underreported or less emphasized, this specific phrase underscores the radical equality and welcome extended to both genders within the early Christian community, reflecting the non-discriminatory nature of salvation in Christ.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• And more than ever believers: The increasing numbers were specifically of those truly believing. This separates them from the superficial "adherents" or mere curious onlookers who did not dare to "join" (Acts 5:13), but instead kept their distance due to fear. The "fear" (from Ananias and Sapphira) purged nominalism and paved the way for authentic faith.
• were added to the Lord: This phrase underscores the divine agency and the theological depth of conversion. It wasn't simply an expansion of a human organization, but God supernaturally uniting new members to His Son. This is foundational to the concept of the Church as the Body of Christ.
• multitudes of both men and women: This comprehensive description reveals the breadth of the Holy Spirit's work. The gospel transcended typical societal divisions and gender roles, embracing individuals from all walks of life. This foreshadows the Spirit's universal outpouring as prophesied by Joel and enacted on Pentecost.

Acts 5 14 Bonus section

• The strategic location of Solomon's Portico (Acts 5:12) allowed the apostles to preach openly and conduct healing ministries where many gathered, creating visibility for the signs and wonders that accompanied the message.
• The fact that no one else "dared to join them" (Acts 5:13) immediately preceding this verse indicates a spiritual sifting. Those who were added were true believers, unlike the previous caution described for the superficial crowd. This ensures the purity and authenticity of the rapid growth mentioned in verse 14.
• This verse provides a counter-narrative to the idea that difficulty or severe internal discipline leads to church decline. Instead, God used these very elements to cultivate a more authentic, fear-of-the-Lord driven expansion.
• The early church did not focus on "recruitment drives" but on faithful preaching, prayer, fellowship, and relying on God's power for growth, reflecting that true expansion is divine work.

Acts 5 14 Commentary

Acts 5:14 is a concise yet profoundly significant statement about the vigorous growth of the early Church in Jerusalem. Following a severe act of divine judgment (Ananias and Sapphira) that underscored the holiness required within God's community, and accompanying remarkable apostolic miracles, this verse reveals a paradoxical outcome: far from being stifled, the genuine expansion of the church intensified. The "fear" that gripped the onlookers (Acts 5:11, 13) purified the environment, meaning only those truly committed would align themselves. Consequently, it was "more than ever believers" who "were added to the Lord," highlighting that the increase was not merely in membership numbers, but in sincere, Christ-centered devotion. The passive voice of "were added" subtly but powerfully points to God as the true agent of growth, drawing people to Himself through the Spirit. The widespread inclusion of "multitudes of both men and women" signifies the gospel's universal appeal, breaking down the social and gender barriers prevalent in that era, demonstrating that in Christ, all are equally valued and brought into His new spiritual family.