The Meaning of Acts 5:26 Explained

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.

YLT: then the magistrate having gone away with officers, brought them without violence, for they were fearing the people, lest they should be stoned;

Darby: Then the captain, having gone with the officers, brought them, not with violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned.

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then  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?

Verse Meaning

The apostles were so popular with the people that the captain and his temple police had to be very careful not to create the impression that they were going to harm the apostles. The apostles had become local heroes, as Jesus had been in the eyes of many. Earlier Israel"s leaders had wanted to arrest Jesus but were careful about how they did so because they feared the reaction of the people ( Luke 20:19; Luke 22:2).

Context Summary

Acts 5:12-26 - Delivered To Testify
While the Holy Spirit works mightily within the Church, He co-operates with it in its outward operations by adding men and women to the Lord. None should be added to the Church roll who have not already been led into living union with Jesus. Through the Church, as His body, the risen Savior works such miracles as are here narrated, filling the hearts of the humble with love and joy, and exciting inveterate hatred in His foes.
The angel of God comes to open prison doors. Are you in sore trouble, from which there is no apparent deliverance? Are you imprisoned in the dungeon of doubt and black despair? Are you being heavily persecuted? Oh, wrap around you the divine protection! Dare to believe that the doors will open as by unseen hands. Nothing can stay the purposes of God. Only use your God-given liberty to go forth to teach the people. The gospel is a message to the people. Let us preach to the hungry, needy crowds. Philosophers, scientists, the wise and prudent of the age, may mock, but the people know the gospel when they hear it. Let us give it to them! [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

Greek Commentary for Acts 5:26

Brought [ηγεν]
Imperfect active of αγω — agō was bringing (leading), slowly no doubt, and solemnly. [source]
But without violence [ου μετα βιας]
Literally, not with violence. For they feared (εποβουντο γαρ — ephobounto gar). Imperfect middle, still feared, kept on fearing. Lest they be stoned Negative purpose with μη — mē (like ινα μη — hina mē), probably with “not with violence,” though possible with “they feared.” They handled the apostles gently for fear of being stoned themselves by the people. First aorist passive subjunctive of λιταζω — lithazō (from λιτος — lithos stone), old verb to pelt with stones (Acts 14:19; John 10:31-33). [source]
For they feared [εποβουντο γαρ]
Imperfect middle, still feared, kept on fearing. [source]
Lest they be stoned [μη λιταστωσιν]
Negative purpose with μη — mē (like ινα μη — hina mē), probably with “not with violence,” though possible with “they feared.” They handled the apostles gently for fear of being stoned themselves by the people. First aorist passive subjunctive of λιταζω — lithazō (from λιτος — lithos stone), old verb to pelt with stones (Acts 14:19; John 10:31-33). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 5:26

John 1:12 Power [ἐξουσίαν]
Rev., the right. Six words are used for power in the:New Testament: βία , force, often oppressive, exhibiting itself in violence (Acts 5:26; Acts 27:41. Compare the kindred verb βιάζεται , Matthew 11:12; “the kingdom of heaven is taken by violence ): δύναμις , natural ability (see on 2 Peter 2:11): ἐνέργεια , energy, power in exercise; only of superhuman power, good or evil. Used by Paul only, and chiefly in the Epistles of the Imprisonment (Ephesians 1:19; Ephesians 3:7; Colossians 2:12. Compare the kindred verb ἐνεργέω , to put forth power, and see on Mark 6:14; see on James 5:16): ἰσχύς , strength (see on 2 Peter 2:11. Compare the kindred verb ἰσχύω , to be strong, and see on Luke 14:30; see on Luke 16:3): κράτος , might, only of God, relative and manifested power, dominion (Ephesians 1:19; Ephesians 6:10; 1 Timothy 6:16; 1 Peter 4:11. Compare the kindred verb κρατέω , to have power, to be master of, and see on Mark 7:3; see on Acts 3:11): ἐξουσία , liberty of action ( ἔξεστι , it is lawful ), authority, delegated or arbitrary (John 5:27; John 10:18; John 17:2; John 19:10, John 19:11. See on Mark 2:10; see on Luke 20:20). Here, therefore, ἐξουσία is not merely possibility or ability, but legitimate right derived from a competent source - the Word. [source]
John 10:31 Took up stones again [εβαστασαν παλιν λιτους]
First aorist active indicative of βασταζω — bastazō old verb to pick up, to carry (John 12:6), to bear (Galatians 6:5). The παλιν — palin refers to John 8:59 where ηραν — ēran was used. They wanted to kill him also when he made himself equal to God in John 5:18. Perhaps here εβαστασαν — ebastasan means “they fetched stones from a distance.” To stone him Final clause with ινα — hina and the first aorist active subjunctive of λιταζω — lithazō late verb (Aristotle, Polybius) from λιτος — lithos (stone, small, Matthew 4:6, or large, Matthew 28:2), in John 10:31-33; John 11:8; Acts 5:26; Acts 14:19; 2 Corinthians 11:25; Hebrews 11:37, but not in the Synoptics. It means to pelt with stones, to overwhelm with stones. [source]
John 7:32 The Pharisees [οι Παρισαιοι]
This group of the Jewish rulers (John 7:11, John 7:15, John 7:25.) was particularly hostile to Christ, though already the Sadducees had become critical (Matthew 16:6) and they join here First aorist active indicative of ακουω — akouō with the genitive case and the descriptive participle of the vivid onomatopoetic verb γογγυζω — gogguzō (John 7:12) now grown louder like the hum of bees. It was the defense of Jesus by a portion of the crowd (John 7:31) that irritated the Pharisees. Here the Pharisees take the initiative and enlist the Sadducees in the Sanhedrin (for this combination see John 7:45; John 11:47, John 11:57; Matthew 21:45; Matthew 27:62, the organized court) to send “officers” For υπηρετας — hupēretas (temple police here) see John 7:45; John 18:3, John 18:12, John 18:22; John 19:6; Acts 5:22, Acts 5:26. For the word see Matthew 5:25; Luke 1:2, “an under rower” (υπο ερετης — hupo class="translit"> eretēs), any assistant. [source]
Acts 21:35 So it was [συνεβη]
Second aorist active of συμβαινω — sumbainō to happen (See note on Acts 20:18) with infinitive clause as subject here as often in the old Greek. He was borne (βασταζεσται αυτον — bastazesthai auton). Accusative of general reference with this subject infinitive, present passive of βασταζω — bastazō to take up with the hands, literally as here. Violence See note on Acts 5:26. Biazō to use force, is from bia f0). [source]
Acts 21:35 Violence [βιαν]
See note on Acts 5:26. Biazō to use force, is from bia f0). [source]
2 Corinthians 11:25 Once was I stoned [απαχ ελιταστην]
Once for all απαχ — hapax means. At Lystra (Acts 14:5-19). On λιταζω — lithazō Koiné{[28928]}š verb from λιτος — lithos see note on Acts 5:26. Thrice I suffered shipwreck (τρις εναυαγησα — tris enauagēsa). First aorist active of ναυαγεω — nauageō from ναυαγος — nauagos shipwrecked (ναυς — naus ship, αγνυμι — agnumi to break). Old and common verb, in N.T. only here and 1 Timothy 1:19. We know nothing of these. The one told in Acts 27 was much later. What a pity that we have no data for all these varied experiences of Paul. Night and day Have I been in the deep (εν τωι βυτωι πεποιηκα — en tōi buthōi pepoiēka). Vivid dramatic perfect active indicative of ποιεω — poieō “I have done a night and day in the deep.” The memory of it survives like a nightmare. υτος — Buthos is old word (only here in N.T.) for bottom, depth of the sea, then the sea itself. Paul does not mean that he was a night and day under the water, not a Jonah experience, only that he was far out at sea and shipwrecked. This was one of the three shipwrecks-already named. [source]
Hebrews 11:37 They were stoned [ἐλιθάσθησαν]
A characteristic Jewish punishment. See 2 Chronicles 24:20; Matthew 23:37; John 10:31; Acts 5:26; Acts 7:59; Acts 14:19. The verb λιθοβολεῖν is also used in Matthew, Luke, and Acts, and once in this epistle, Hebrews 12:20. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 5:26 mean?

Then having gone the captain with the officers was bringing them not with force they were afraid of for the people lest they might be stoned
Τότε ἀπελθὼν στρατηγὸς σὺν τοῖς ὑπηρέταις ἦγεν αὐτούς οὐ μετὰ βίας ἐφοβοῦντο γὰρ τὸν λαόν μὴ λιθασθῶσιν

ἀπελθὼν  having  gone 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀπέρχομαι  
Sense: to go away, depart.
στρατηγὸς  captain 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: στρατηγός  
Sense: the commander of an army.
ὑπηρέταις  officers 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: ὑπηρέτης  
Sense: servant.
ἦγεν  was  bringing 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἄγω  
Sense: to lead, take with one.
βίας  force 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: βία  
Sense: strength, whether of body or mind.
ἐφοβοῦντο  they  were  afraid  of 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Plural
Root: φοβέομαι 
Sense: to put to flight by terrifying (to scare away).
λαόν  people 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: λαός  
Sense: a people, people group, tribe, nation, all those who are of the same stock and language.
μὴ  lest 
Parse: Adverb
Root: μή 
Sense: no, not lest.
λιθασθῶσιν  they  might  be  stoned 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Passive, 3rd Person Plural
Root: λιθάζω  
Sense: to overwhelm or pelt with stones.