Acts 5:13
None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Acts 5:13
None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The verse highlights a striking contrast: while "the rest"—likely referring to the influential Jewish leaders and those with vested interests—feared associating with the apostles, the common people eagerly embraced and honored them. This wasn't just about fear; it was about the divine power and authority radiating from the apostles, setting them apart and drawing the masses to them in awe.
Following the dramatic judgment on Ananias and Sapphira, a palpable fear fell upon outsiders, deterring many from joining the burgeoning Christian community. While those with influence or perhaps ulterior motives hesitated, the common people, witnessing the apostles' power and authority, held them in deep reverence and awe. This stark contrast between outward fear and inward admiration set the stage for the apostles' continued ministry and the Sanhedrin's growing opposition.
Why did some people shrink back while the crowds pressed in? This verse reveals a stark division happening in Jerusalem.
The text describes two very different reactions to the growing church and the apostles' powerful ministry.
Those Who Held Back
Verse 13 says, "None of the rest dared join themselves to them." Who are "the rest"? The scholarly context suggests these weren't the general crowds, but likely those with status or who were hesitant:
The Greek word used here for "join themselves" can imply an unnatural or forced union, suggesting these individuals were not naturally drawn to the apostles' simple, bold faith. They could see the power, but they wouldn't take the step of genuine association.
The People's Response
In contrast, "the people held them in high esteem." This refers to the general populace, the common folk. They weren't deterred; they were drawn in. They saw the genuine miracles, the selfless community, and the authority with which the apostles spoke. They revered the apostles and the church, recognizing something divine at work.
What made the people hold the apostles in such 'high esteem'? It wasn't just charisma; it was God's unmistakable power.
The high esteem the people had for the apostles wasn't earned through slick marketing or eloquent speeches alone. It stemmed directly from God's powerful actions through them.
The dramatic judgment on Ananias and Sapphira created a stark contrast: the religious and political elite hesitated to associate with the apostles, fearing divine judgment, while the common people, witnessing the signs and wonders, held the apostles in high regard.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
The foundational events of Christianity, Jesus' death and resurrection, sparked the movement that would lead to the events in Acts.
c. AD 33
Pentecost and the Birth of the Church
The coming of the Holy Spirit empowered the apostles, leading to bold preaching and the initial growth of the early church in Jerusalem.
c. AD 33-34— this verse
Ananias and Sapphira's Judgment
The dramatic judgment on Ananias and Sapphira for lying about their financial contributions served as a powerful warning and purification for the early church.
c. AD 34
Apostles Imprisoned and Freed
Following the Ananias and Sapphira incident, the apostles were arrested by the Sanhedrin, miraculously released, and continued teaching, leading to further confrontation.
This passage describes how many even of the rulers believed in Jesus, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, for fear of being put out of the synagogue, showing a parallel to the 'rest' in Acts who were deterred from openly associating with the apostles.
Acts 4:13Here, the council recognized that Peter and John were untrained, ordinary men, yet they could not deny the boldness and signs they performed, leading to a similar astonishment and respect from the people.
Romans 1:16Paul expresses that he is not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for salvation, reflecting the 'high esteem' the people held for the apostles' message and miraculous power.
1 Corinthians 1:27-29This passage highlights how God chooses the weak and humble things to shame the wise and strong, explaining why the common people might hold the apostles in high esteem while others, perhaps those with more status or influence, dared not associate with them.
ellicottActs 5:13: "And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them."
(13) Of the rest. —We are left to conjecture who these were who are contrasted with the Apostles on the one side and with the people on the other. Does it mean that the Apostles stood aloof in an isolated majesty, and so that none of the other disciples dared associate himself with them? or is this St. Luke’s way of speaking of the Pharisees and other teachers, who also resorted to the portico, but, a…
vincentActs 5:13: "And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them."
The restUnbelievers, deterred by the fate of Ananias from uniting themselves to the church under false pretences.Join himself (κολλᾶσθαι)See on Luke 15:15; and Luke 10:11. In all but two instances (Romans 12:9; 1 Corinthians 6:17), the word implies a forced, unnatural, or unexpected union. Thus Philip would not, without a special command, have "joined himself" to the chariot of the Ethiopian prince (…
The verse highlights a striking contrast: while "the rest"—likely referring to the influential Jewish leaders and those with vested interests—feared associating with the apostles, the common people eagerly embraced and honored them. This wasn't just about fear; it was about the divine power and authority radiating from the apostles, setting them apart and drawing the masses to them in awe.
Following the dramatic judgment on Ananias and Sapphira, a palpable fear fell upon outsiders, deterring many from joining the burgeoning Christian community. While those with influence or perhaps ulterior motives hesitated, the common people, witnessing the apostles' power and authority, held them in deep reverence and awe. This stark contrast between outward fear and inward admiration set the stage for the apostles' continued ministry and the Sanhedrin's growing opposition.
Following the dramatic judgment on Ananias and Sapphira, a palpable fear fell upon outsiders, deterring many from joining the burgeoning Christian community. While those with influence or perhaps ulterior motives hesitated, the common people, witnessing the apostles' power and authority, held them in deep reverence and awe. This stark contrast between outward fear and inward admiration set the stage for the apostles' continued ministry and the Sanhedrin's growing opposition.
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Signs and Wonders
The passage begins by stating, "by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people." These weren't minor occurrences; they were public displays of divine power that grabbed attention and validated the apostles' message. The fate of Ananias and Sapphira served as a potent, albeit terrifying, reminder of God's seriousness about truth and holiness within His community.
A Divine Aura
This divine backing created an atmosphere of awe. The scholarly notes mention a "certain divine majesty" that shone around the apostles and the early church. It wasn't just that they performed miracles; it was the way they did it – with one accord, in places like Solomon's Porch, demonstrating unity and conviction. This separated them from the often hypocritical religious establishment.
The people's reaction, described as "magnified them," means they honored, revered, and held them in awe. They recognized that these weren't ordinary men, but instruments of God Himself. This esteem was a direct result of experiencing God's power and presence through the apostles.
c. AD 34
Gamaliel's Counsel to the Sanhedrin
Facing the imprisoned apostles, the Jewish council debated their fate, with the respected Pharisee Gamaliel advising caution, suggesting that if the movement was human it would fail on its own.
"None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem." — The verse highlights a striking contrast: while "the rest"—likely referring to the influential Jewish leaders and those with vested interests—feared associating with the apostles, the common people e…