God’s Word Translation
Acts 5:26
26Then the officer of the temple guards went with some of his men to bring back the apostles without using force. After all, the officer and his guards were afraid that the people would stone them to death for using force.
Acts 5:26 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
- New International Version (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.
- English Standard Version (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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned.
Context of Acts 5:26
24When the officer of the temple guards and the chief priests heard this, they were puzzled about what could have happened. 25Then someone told them, “The men you put in prison are standing in the temple courtyard. They’re teaching the people.” Then the officer of the temple guards went with some of his men to bring back the apostles without using force. After all, the officer and his guards were afraid that the people would stone them to death for using force. 27When they brought back the apostles, they made them stand in front of the council. The chief priest questioned them. 28He said, “We gave you strict orders not to mention Jesus’ name when you teach. Yet, you’ve filled Jerusalem with your teachings. You want to take revenge on us for putting that man to death.”
Read all of Acts 5Acts 5:26 word by word
Τότε ἀπελθὼν ὁ στρατηγὸς σὺν τοῖς ὑπηρέταις αὐτοὺς οὐ μετὰ βίας, ἐφοβοῦντο γὰρ τὸν λαὸν μὴ λιθασθῶσιν.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Thenτότεtote · thenG5119
- wentἀπέρχομαιaperchomai · to go awayG565
- the captainὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the captainστρατηγόςstratēgos · officer/magistrateG4755
- withσύνsun · withG4862
- the officersὑπηρέτηςhupēretēs · servantG5257
- broughtἄγωagō · to bringG71
- themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- withoutμετάmeta · with/afterG3326
- ·οὐou · noG3756
- violenceβίαbia · forceG970
- forγάρgar · forG1063
- they fearedφοβέωphobeō · to fearG5399
- the peopleλαόςlaos · a peopleG2992
- ·ἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- lestμήmē · notG3361
- they should have been stonedλιθάζωlithazō · to stoneG3034
Cross-references for Acts 5:26
- Acts 5:13None of the other people dared to join them, although everyone spoke highly of them.
- Matthew 14:5So Herod wanted to kill John. However, he was afraid of the people because they thought John was a prophet.
- Matthew 21:26But if we say, ‘from humans,’ we’re afraid of what the crowd might do. All those people think of John as a prophet.”
- Matthew 26:5But they said, “We shouldn’t arrest him during the festival, or else there may be a riot among the people.”
- Luke 20:6But if we say, ‘from humans,’ everyone will stone us to death. They’re convinced that John was a prophet.”
- Luke 22:2The chief priests and the experts in Moses’ Teachings were looking for some way to kill Jesus. However, they were afraid of the people.
Commentaries on Acts 5:26
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 26Brought 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…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 26Without violence - Not by force; not by “binding” them. Compare Matthew 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, Acts…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 26-33Verses 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…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17-40The apostles' successful ministry caused strong opposition (compare 4:1–3). The wealthy and powerful Sadducees controlled the temple and had a temple police force. They opposed belief in the resurrection and were determined to challenge and, if possible, prevent the apostles from sharing their message about the resurrection of Jesus. They felt their influence over the Jewish people weakening. Jealousy and bitterness led them to attack the apostles.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 24-2624-26. they doubted--"were in perplexity."Read the comment
Topics related to Acts 5:26
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Acts 5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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