“Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.”
At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they were afraid of the people - the 'fear of the people' (phoboumenoi ton ochlon) reverses the power dynamic. The officers do not lay hands violently but bring them without force (ou meta ias), suggesting a kind of ceremonial arrest. The people's favor is a restraint on institutional power.
Church Fathers on Acts 5:26
But the Angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. Acts 5:19-21 This was done both for the encouragement of the disciples, and for the benefit and instruction of the others. And observe how the proceeding in the present instance is just the same as in what Christ Himself did.…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a reflection on this verse
No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!