Acts 5 26

Acts 5:26 kjv

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

Acts 5:26 nkjv

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

Acts 5:26 niv

At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them.

Acts 5:26 esv

Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

Acts 5:26 nlt

The captain went with his Temple guards and arrested the apostles, but without violence, for they were afraid the people would stone them.

Acts 5 verses

Acts 5 26 Meaning

Acts 5:26 states that the temple captain and his officers apprehended the apostles, not with forceful or violent methods, but with caution. This gentle approach was taken because the religious authorities feared a public uprising, specifically the risk of the Jewish people stoning them (the authorities or the officers) if they were seen mistreating those the public revered as agents of God.

Acts 5 26 Context

Acts chapter 5 continues the narrative of the early Christian church in Jerusalem. Following Peter and John's previous arrest and release (Ac 4), the apostles boldly persisted in teaching and healing in Solomon's Colonnade within the temple precincts. This activity resulted in significant signs and wonders, bringing many more believers to the Lord and causing even sick people to be laid in the streets in hopes that Peter's shadow might fall upon them. The Sadducees, filled with jealousy, had the apostles arrested and put in public prison. However, an angel of the Lord miraculously opened the prison doors by night, instructing them to return to the temple and preach the full message of life. In the morning, the Sanhedrin assembled, sending for the prisoners, only to find the prison empty and the apostles back in the temple. A guard reported this astonishing news, leading to the decision recounted in verse 26—to retrieve the apostles but with careful consideration for the highly supportive public. The Sanhedrin's actions throughout the book of Acts are often characterized by a balancing act: a desire to suppress the new movement, yet a need to avoid open confrontation with the populace who frequently favored the apostles or Jesus during His earthly ministry. Stoning was a community-based form of capital punishment, usually for serious religious offenses, and its threat underscored the volatile nature of the crowd's sentiment.

Acts 5 26 Word analysis

• Then went: Implies immediate compliance by the captain and officers to the Sanhedrin's command, but with a specific, planned approach.
• the captain (Greek: strategos, στρατηγός): This refers to the captain of the temple guard, a Jewish official second only to the high priest in the temple hierarchy. He was responsible for order within the temple area, not a Roman officer.
• with the officers (Greek: hypērētēs, ὑπηρέτης): These were temple servants or police, acting under the authority of the Sanhedrin, similar to temple police.
• and brought them: A straightforward action, yet the manner of their bringing is critical.
• without violence (Greek: ou meta bias, οὐ μετὰ βίας): Literally, "not with force" or "not with strong coercion." This is the pivotal detail. It highlights a deliberate, cautious handling of the situation. Their customary means of arrest might involve force, but here it was explicitly avoided.
• for they feared (Greek: ephobounto, ἐφοβοῦντο): The imperfect tense indicates a continuing or habitual state of fear, showing this was a prevailing concern, not just a momentary apprehension. It reveals their motivation was human-centered, rather than divine justice or courage.
• the people (Greek: ton laon, τὸν λαόν): Refers to the Jewish populace or the multitude. The term indicates a large number of people gathered, representing public opinion and potential influence. They had observed the apostles' miracles and heard their preaching, holding them in high regard.
• lest they should have been stoned (Greek: mē lithasthōsin, μὴ λιθασθῶσιν): This precise phrase articulates the Sanhedrin's chief concern. Stoning was a severe, often communal, form of execution in Jewish law. The authorities were not worried the apostles would stone them, but rather that the enraged people would stone them (the captain and officers, and by extension, the Sanhedrin) for acting unjustly against those whom God clearly favored. It signifies the immense public support for the apostles and the precarious position of the authorities.

• "the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence": This group of words emphasizes that official action was taken, but it was conspicuously restrained. The authority's hand was held back by a strong external pressure, a pragmatic choice over brute force.
• "for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned": This phrase clearly articulates the core reason for the tempered approach. It directly links the avoidance of violence to the human fear of severe popular backlash, highlighting the Sanhedrin's strategic thinking rooted in self-preservation and concern for their own lives rather than true justice or reverence for God. Their authority depended significantly on the public's acquiescence, which was jeopardized by the apostles' popularity.

Acts 5 26 Bonus section

The Sanhedrin’s fear in Acts 5:26 is not about a loss of legal authority, but rather a loss of popular legitimacy and personal safety. The threat of stoning by the public for perceived injustices indicates the substantial popular backing for the apostles, a protective buffer arranged by divine providence. This scenario frequently recurs in biblical narratives, where worldly authorities prioritize self-preservation or political stability over confronting perceived divine truth, echoing similar patterns seen during Jesus's ministry when leaders refrained from directly arresting Him due to fear of the crowds.

Acts 5 26 Commentary

Acts 5:26 presents a telling snapshot of the early church's interaction with Jewish religious authority. Despite their jealousy and resolve to suppress the apostles, the Sanhedrin was constrained by an even greater fear: that of the common people. The apostles’ powerful preaching, coupled with the numerous signs and wonders, had cultivated deep respect and favor among the populace. The Sanhedrin's officers were explicitly instructed to use no violence when apprehending them, for fear that the crowd would react aggressively, potentially stoning the officers or leaders themselves for harming perceived messengers of God. This fear reveals a significant aspect of the Sanhedrin’s character and priorities; they were more concerned with maintaining social order, their own safety, and their standing among the people than with executing what they perceived as divine law. Their political shrewdness overshadowed their religious convictions, creating a stark contrast with the apostles' fearlessness in obeying God above all. The passage underscores the providential protection afforded to the apostles through public favor, forcing their opponents to adopt a less aggressive stance than they desired, thereby highlighting the divine hand working through public sentiment.