The arresting officers were actually afraid of the people's reaction, not of the apostles themselves, revealing how God's power and popularity could even make the authorities hesitate. This caution shows that the apostles' growing influence was already shaping public sentiment so strongly that the guards prioritized their own safety over forceful apprehension.
Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The apostles, having been miraculously freed from prison, returned to teaching in the temple, drawing massive crowds. This drew the attention of the temple authorities who sent officers to arrest them, but these officers hesitated to use force because of the great popular support for the apostles. The apostles, in turn, willingly went with the officers, not wanting to cause a riot, and were brought before the Sanhedrin.
Why did the authorities handle the apostles with such unusual gentleness? It wasn't just respect for the apostles, but a healthy dose of fear.
The people weren't just observers; they were passionate followers.
A Restraining Fear
When the captain and his officers came to arrest the apostles, they didn't use force. The text explicitly states the reason: 'for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.'
The apostles had just dramatically escaped prison, yet here they calmly go with their captors. What does this quiet obedience reveal about their mission?
Witnessing Through Obedience
Despite their miraculous deliverance and the powerful backing of the crowd, the apostles didn't resist arrest. They went willingly with the officers.
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Understand the original words
stratēgos · Greek Noun
Refers to a leader of the temple police, responsible for maintaining order within the temple precincts and carrying out the commands of the Sanhedrin.
synedrion · Greek Noun
The high governing body of the Jewish people in Jerusalem, composed of chief priests, elders, and scribes, holding both religious and some civil authority.
archiereus · Greek Noun
The chief religious leader of the Jewish nation, serving as the president of the Sanhedrin and the only one permitted to enter the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement.
didaskō · Greek Verb
The act of proclaiming the truth about God, Jesus Christ, and the kingdom of heaven, which is a central calling for those commissioned by Christ.
haima · Greek Noun
A central theme in the New Testament referring to the judicial and moral accountability for the death of Jesus, often associated with the rejection of the Messiah.
The popular favor shown to the apostles, while a testament to their witness, created a precarious situation where the authorities had to tread carefully to avoid public unrest.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Early Christian Preaching in Jerusalem
Following Jesus' ascension, the apostles began boldly preaching repentance and the resurrection of Jesus in Jerusalem, attracting large crowds.
c. AD 30-33
Apostles Imprisoned and Released
The apostles were arrested by the temple guard, thrown into prison, but miraculously freed by an angel. They immediately returned to teaching in the temple.
c. AD 30-33
Arrest and Divine Intervention
The temple captain, ordered to arrest the apostles, found them teaching and, fearing a popular uprising, brought them back without force.
c. AD 30-33
Appearance Before the Sanhedrin
The apostles stood before the Sanhedrin, continuing to testify about Jesus and His resurrection, directly challenging the council's authority.
c. AD 30-33
Gamaliel's Counsel
A respected Pharisee named Gamaliel intervened, advising the council to let the apostles go, warning them not to fight against God.
c. AD 30-33
Apostles Flogged and Released
The Sanhedrin flogged the apostles, ordered them not to speak in Jesus' name, and then released them, though the apostles rejoiced at suffering for Christ.
This passage describes temple guards who were sent to arrest Jesus but returned without Him because they were afraid to lay hands on Him, mirroring the fear the captain had of the crowd in Acts 5.
Matthew 27:25Here, the crowd cries out that Jesus's blood be on them and their children, showing a collective, potentially volatile, popular will that the authorities also feared, much like the Jewish crowd's devotion to the apostles.
Romans 13:1This verse speaks of submitting to governing authorities, which aligns with the apostles' willingness to go with the officers, not by force, as they respected the earthly order while prioritizing God's commands.
Acts 4:21Similar to this verse where the authorities, also fearing the people's reaction, let the apostles go after threatening them, the crowd's favor for the apostles in Acts 5 created a similar dilemma for the officers.
ellicottActs 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."
(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 al…
jfbActs 5:12-26: "And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch."
Ac 5:12-26. The Progress of the New Cause Leads to the Arrest of the Apostles—They Are Miraculously Delivered from Prison, Resume Their Teaching, but Allow Themselves to Be Conducted before the Samhedrim.12. Solomon's Porch—(See on [1952]Joh 10:23).
The arresting officers were actually afraid of the people's reaction, not of the apostles themselves, revealing how God's power and popularity could even make the authorities hesitate. This caution shows that the apostles' growing influence was already shaping public sentiment so strongly that the guards prioritized their own safety over forceful apprehension.
The apostles, having been miraculously freed from prison, returned to teaching in the temple, drawing massive crowds. This drew the attention of the temple authorities who sent officers to arrest them, but these officers hesitated to use force because of the great popular support for the apostles. The apostles, in turn, willingly went with the officers, not wanting to cause a riot, and were brought before the Sanhedrin.
The apostles, having been miraculously freed from prison, returned to teaching in the temple, drawing massive crowds. This drew the attention of the temple authorities who sent officers to arrest them, but these officers hesitated to use force because of the great popular support for the apostles. The apostles, in turn, willingly went with the officers, not wanting to cause a riot, and were brought before the Sanhedrin.
"Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying,…" — The arresting officers were actually afraid of the people's reaction, not of the apostles themselves, revealing how God's power and popularity could even make the authorities hesitate. This caution s…
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Last reviewed October 2026
