Acts 5 · Verse 26

Acts 5:26

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, King James Version

Acts 5:26 in other translations

BSBAt that point, the captain went with the officers and brought the apostles—but not by force, for fear the people would stone them.
WEBThen the captain went with the officers, and brought them without violence, for they were afraid that the people might stone them.
ASVThen went the captain with the officers, and brought them, but without violence; for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned.
YLTthen the magistrate having gone away with officers, brought them without violence, for they were fearing the people, lest they should be stoned;
DARBYThen the captain, having gone with the officers, brought them, not with violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned.
BBEThen the captain and some of the police went and took them, but not violently, for fear that they might be stoned by the people.
WebsterThen went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.

What does Acts 5:26 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 5:24-26

24-26. they doubted--"were in perplexity."

Read the full comment on Acts 5:24-26 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 26. Without violence. Not by force; not by binding them. Comp. Mt 27:22. The command of the sanhedrim 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. Acts 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 favourable to the apostles. If violence had been attempted, or they had been taken in a cruel and forcible manner, the consequence would have been a tumult 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.

(a) "for they feared" Mt 21:26

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 26 Brought them without violence - On receiving the information mentioned above, proper officers were sent to seize and bring them before the council. The officers, on reaching the temple, found the multitude gladly receiving the doctrine of the apostles, and so intent on hearing all the words of this life that they were afraid to show any hostility to the apostles, lest the people should stone them; we may therefore conclude that the officers entreated them to accompany them to the council; and that they felt it their duty to obey every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, and so cheerfully went with them, trusting in the Lord their God.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 5:26-33
Many will do an evil thing with daring, yet cannot bear to hear of it afterward, or to have it charged upon them. We cannot expect to be redeemed and healed by Christ, unless we give up ourselves to be ruled by him. Faith takes the Saviour in all his offices, who came, not to save us in our sins, but to save us from our sins. Had Christ been exalted to give dominion to Israel, the chief priests would have welcomed him. But repentance and remission of sins are blessings they neither valued nor saw their need of; therefore they, by no means, admitted his doctrine. Wherever repentance is wrought, remission is granted without fail. None are freed from the guilt and punishment of sin, but those who are freed from the power and dominion of sin; who are turned from it, and turned against it. Christ gives repentance, by his Spirit working with the word, to awaken the conscience, to work sorrow for sin, and an effectual change in the heart and life. The giving of the Holy Ghost, is plain evidence that it is the will of God that Christ should be obeyed. And He will surely destroy those who will not have Him to reign over them.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Acts 5:26 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΤότεToteThenG5119
ἀπελθὼνapelthōnhaving goneG565
ὁhotheG3588
στρατηγὸςstratēgoscaptainG4755
σὺνsunwithG4862
τοῖςtoistheG3588
ὑπηρέταιςhupēretaisofficersG5257
ἦγενēgenwas bringingG71
αὐτοὺςautousthemG846
οὐounotG3756
μετὰmetawithG3326
βίας,biasforce,G970
ἐφοβοῦντοephobountothey were afraid ofG5399
γὰρgarforG1063
τὸνtontheG3588
λαὸνlaonpeopleG2992
μὴmēlestG3361
λιθασθῶσιν.¶lithasthōsinthey may be stoned.G3034

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 5:26

  • Acts 5:13

    And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.

  • Acts 4:21

    So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.

  • Luke 20:19

    And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.

  • Matthew 21:26

    But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.

  • Luke 20:6

    But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.

  • Matthew 14:5

    And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

  • Luke 22:2

    And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.

  • Acts 5:24

    Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.

  • Matthew 26:5

    But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
they.
13; Mt 14:5; 21:26; 26:5; Lu 20:6,19; 22:2

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 5:25

    Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.

  • Acts 5:26

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

  • Acts 5:27

    And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,

Read all of Acts 5

Acts 5:26 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces fué el magistrado con los ministros, y trájolos sin violencia; porque temían del pueblo ser apedreados.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Alors le commandant, avec les huissiers, s’en alla et les amena sans violence; car ils craignaient d’ être lapidés par le peuple.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Da ging der Hauptmann mit den Dienern hin und führte sie herbei, nicht mit Gewalt, denn sie fürchteten das Volk, sie möchten gesteinigt werden.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Tunc abiit magistratus cum ministris, et adduxit illos sine vi: timebant enim populum ne lapidarentur.