Acts 5:26
New International Version
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.

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

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

Berean Standard Bible
At that point, the captain went with the officers and brought the apostles—but not by force, for fear the people would stone them.

Berean Literal Bible
Then the captain, having gone with the officers, was bringing them, not with force, for they were afraid of the people lest they might be stoned.

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

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

New American Standard Bible
Then the captain went along with the officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for they were afraid of the people, that they might be stoned).

NASB 1995
Then the captain went along with the officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for they were afraid of the people, that they might be stoned).

NASB 1977
Then the captain went along with the officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for they were afraid of the people, lest they should be stoned).

Legacy Standard Bible
Then the captain went along with the officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for they were afraid of the people, that they might be stoned).

Amplified Bible
Then the captain went with the officers and brought them back, without hurting them (because they were afraid of the people, worried that they might be stoned).

Christian Standard Bible
Then the commander went with the servants and brought them in without force, because they were afraid the people might stone them.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then the commander went with the temple police and brought them in without force, because they were afraid the people might stone them.

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

Contemporary English Version
The captain went with some of the temple police and brought the apostles back. But they did not use force. They were afraid that the people might start throwing stones at them.

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
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.

Good News Translation
So the officer went off with his men and brought the apostles back. They did not use force, however, because they were afraid that the people might stone them.

International Standard Version
So the commander of the Temple guards went with his men to bring them back without force, because they were afraid of being stoned to death by the people.

Majority Standard Bible
At that point, the captain went with the officers and brought the apostles?but not by force, for fear the people would stone them.

NET Bible
Then the commander of the temple guard went with the officers and brought the apostles without the use of force (for they were afraid of being stoned by the people).

New Heart English Bible
Then the captain went with the officers, and brought them without violence, for they were afraid that the people might stone them.

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

Weymouth New Testament
Upon this the Commander went with the officers, and brought the Apostles; but without using violence; for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

World English Bible
Then the captain went with the officers, and brought them without violence, for they were afraid that the people might stone them.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
then the magistrate having gone away with officers, brought them without violence, for they were fearing the people, lest they should be stoned;

Berean Literal Bible
Then the captain, having gone with the officers, was bringing them, not with force, for they were afraid of the people lest they might be stoned.

Young's Literal Translation
then the magistrate having gone away with officers, brought them without violence, for they were fearing the people, lest they should be stoned;

Smith's Literal Translation
Then the commander having gone with attendants, brought them, not with force: for they feared the people, lest they might be stoned.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Then went the officer with the ministers, and brought them without violence; for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then the magistrate, with the attendants, went and brought them without force. For they were afraid of the people, lest they be stoned.

New American Bible
Then the captain and the court officers went and brought them in, but without force, because they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

New Revised Standard Version
Then the captain went with the temple police and brought them, but without violence, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then the leaders went with the soldiers to bring them, not by force, for they were afraid that the people might stone them.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And the Leaders went with the attendants to bring them, not with force, for they were afraid lest the people would stone them.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Then went the captain with the attendants, and brought them without violence; for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned.

Godbey New Testament
Then the captain along with the officers, having gone away, led them, not with violence, for they feared the people lest they might be stoned.

Haweis New Testament
Then went the captain, with the officers, and brought them; not forcibly, for they were afraid of the people, lest they should stone them.

Mace New Testament
upon which the captain went with his officers, and brought them, without offering any violence, for fear of being stoned, he and his men by the people.

Weymouth New Testament
Upon this the Commander went with the officers, and brought the Apostles; but without using violence; for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

Worrell New Testament
Then the captain, having gone away with the officers, brought them, not with violence, for they were fearing the people, lest they should be stoned;

Worsley New Testament
Then the captain went with the officers and brought them, but not with violence; for they were afraid of the people least they should be stoned:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Apostles Before the Council
25Then someone came in and announced, “Look, the men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people!” 26At that point, the captain went with the officers and brought the apostles— but not by force, for fear the people would stone them. 27They brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, where the high priest interrogated them.…

Cross References
Matthew 26:55
At that time Jesus said to the crowd, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would an outlaw? Every day I sat teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest Me.

Mark 14:48-49
Jesus asked the crowd, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would an outlaw? / Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest Me. But this has happened that the Scriptures would be fulfilled.”

Luke 22:52-53
Then Jesus said to the chief priests, temple officers, and elders who had come for Him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as you would against an outlaw? / Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on Me. But this hour belongs to you and to the power of darkness.”

John 18:12
Then the band of soldiers, with its commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him.

John 7:30
So they tried to seize Him, but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.

John 7:44
Some of them wanted to seize Him, but no one laid a hand on Him.

John 8:20
He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts, near the treasury. Yet no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come.

John 18:6
When Jesus said, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

Acts 4:21
After 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.

Acts 12:4
He arrested him and put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out to the people after the Passover.

Acts 16:23-24
And after striking them with many blows, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to guard them securely. / On receiving this order, he placed them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

Acts 21:30-32
The whole city was stirred up, and the people rushed together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut. / While they were trying to kill him, the commander of the Roman regiment received a report that all Jerusalem was in turmoil. / Immediately he took some soldiers and centurions and ran down to the crowd. When the people saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.

Acts 23:10
The dispute grew so violent that the commander was afraid they would tear Paul to pieces. He ordered the soldiers to go down and remove him by force and bring him into the barracks.

Acts 23:27
This man was seized by the Jews, and they were about to kill him when I came with my troops to rescue him. For I had learned that he is a Roman citizen,

Acts 24:7
but Lysias the commander came with great force and took him out of our hands,


Treasury of Scripture

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

they.

Acts 5:13
And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.

Matthew 14:5
And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

Matthew 21:26
But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.

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Afraid Apostles Captain Commander Fear Feared Fearing Force Magistrate Officers Police Proceeded Stone Stoned Use Using Violence Violently
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Afraid Apostles Captain Commander Fear Feared Fearing Force Magistrate Officers Police Proceeded Stone Stoned Use Using Violence Violently
Acts 5
1. After that Ananias and Sapphira his wife,
3. at Peter's rebuke had fallen down dead;
12. and that the rest of the apostles had wrought many miracles;
14. to the increase of the faith;
17. the apostles are again imprisoned;
19. but delivered by an angel bidding them preach openly to all;
21. when, after their teaching accordingly in the temple,
29. and before the council,
33. they are in danger to be killed;
34. but through the advice of Gamaliel, they are kept alive, and are only beaten;
41. for which they glorify God, and cease no day from preaching.














At that point
This phrase indicates a specific moment in the narrative, following the apostles' miraculous escape from prison. It highlights the urgency and immediacy of the situation as the religious leaders sought to reassert control over the apostles.

the captain went with the officers
The captain refers to the captain of the temple guard, a high-ranking official responsible for maintaining order in the temple precincts. The officers were likely Levites tasked with assisting in temple security. This reflects the organized structure of temple authority and the seriousness with which the Sanhedrin viewed the apostles' activities.

and brought the apostles
The apostles, primarily Peter and John, were central figures in the early church, boldly preaching the resurrection of Jesus. Their arrest and subsequent release by divine intervention underscored the tension between the nascent Christian movement and Jewish religious authorities.

but not by force
This phrase indicates a strategic decision by the temple authorities to avoid using violence. It reflects the delicate balance they had to maintain between enforcing their authority and avoiding public unrest.

for fear the people would stone them
The apostles had gained significant favor among the people due to their teachings and miracles. The fear of being stoned by the people suggests the high level of popular support for the apostles, which constrained the actions of the religious leaders. This mirrors other instances in scripture where leaders feared the reaction of the populace, such as in the case of John the Baptist (Matthew 14:5).

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Captain of the Temple Guard
This individual was responsible for maintaining order in the temple precincts. He played a key role in the arrest of the apostles, ensuring it was done without inciting a riot.

2. The Officers
These were the temple police who assisted the captain in maintaining order and executing the orders of the Sanhedrin.

3. The Apostles
The followers of Jesus who were preaching His resurrection and performing miracles, causing a stir among the Jewish leaders.

4. The Sanhedrin
The Jewish ruling council that was concerned about the apostles' influence and sought to suppress their message.

5. The People
The general populace who were supportive of the apostles due to the miracles and teachings they witnessed, creating a potential threat of violence against the authorities.
Teaching Points
Fear of Man vs. Fear of God
The authorities acted out of fear of the people rather than reverence for God. Believers are called to prioritize God's will over human approval.

God's Protection of His Messengers
Despite opposition, God protected the apostles, allowing them to continue their mission. This encourages believers to trust in God's protection when facing opposition.

The Power of Public Witness
The apostles' influence on the people demonstrates the power of a faithful witness. Christians are encouraged to live out their faith boldly, impacting those around them.

Non-violent Resistance
The apostles did not resist arrest, showing a model of peaceful endurance in the face of persecution. Believers can learn to respond to opposition with grace and peace.(26) Without violence . . .--The scene recalls that of John 7:45. Here, however, the Apostles set the example of unresisting acquiescence, even though the tide of feeling in their favour was so strong that they might have easily raised a tumult in their favour. The signs that had been recently wrought, perhaps also the lavish distribution of alms, the ideal communism of the disciples, were all likely, till counteracted by stronger influences, to secure popular favour.

Verse 26. - But without for without, A.V.; lest they should be, omitting ἵνα, for lest they should have been, with ἵνα, A.V. and T.R. Lest they should be, etc. The best way of construing the words, whether ἵνα is re-rained or not, is to make the clause "lest they should be stoned" depend upon "not with violence;" putting "for they feared the people" into a parenthesis; thus explaining why they thought it dangerous to use violence.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
At that point,
Τότε (Tote)
Adverb
Strong's 5119: Then, at that time. From ho and hote; the when, i.e. At the time that.

the
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

captain
στρατηγὸς (stratēgos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4755: From the base of stratia and ago or hegeomai; a general, i.e. a governor, the chief of the temple-wardens.

went
ἀπελθὼν (apelthōn)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 565: From apo and erchomai; to go off, aside or behind, literally or figuratively.

with
σὺν (syn)
Preposition
Strong's 4862: With. A primary preposition denoting union; with or together.

the
τοῖς (tois)
Article - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

officers
ὑπηρέταις (hypēretais)
Noun - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 5257: From hupo and a derivative of eresso; an under-oarsman, i.e. subordinate.

[and] brought
ἦγεν (ēgen)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 71: A primary verb; properly, to lead; by implication, to bring, drive, go, pass, or induce.

[the apostles]—
αὐτούς (autous)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

[but] not
οὐ (ou)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

by
μετὰ (meta)
Preposition
Strong's 3326: (a) gen: with, in company with, (b) acc: (1) behind, beyond, after, of place, (2) after, of time, with nouns, neut. of adjectives.

force,
βίας (bias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 970: Force, violence, strength. Probably akin to bia; force.

for
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

fear
ἐφοβοῦντο (ephobounto)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 5399: From phobos; to frighten, i.e. to be alarmed; by analogy, to be in awe of, i.e. Revere.

the
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

people
λαόν (laon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2992: Apparently a primary word; a people.

would stone [them].
λιθασθῶσιν (lithasthōsin)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 3034: To stone, pelt with stones. From lithos; to lapidate.


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NT Apostles: Acts 5:26 Then the captain went with the officers (Acts of the Apostles Ac)
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