Bible Strands
Acts 5:13
Although the people regarded them highly, no one else dared to join them.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The narrator records the social dynamic surrounding the apostles in Jerusalem immediately after their release from the Sanhedrin. The text places the believers in Solomon’s Colonnade while noting the posture of the surrounding populace toward the apostolic group.
The words — κολλᾶσθαι (kollasthai) literally means "to glue together" or "to attach closely," and οὐδεὶς (oudeis) means "no one." These terms specify that despite the apostles' high standing, the general population refused to physically or socially unite with them.
The thread — The contrast between public admiration and private fear appears in Acts 2:47, where believers enjoy the people's favor, and Acts 4:21, where authorities spare the apostles because the crowds glorify God. John 12:42 similarly notes leaders who believed but withheld confession out of fear of the Pharisees.
Why it lands — The text establishes that high regard for holy figures does not compel public identification or shared commitment. It requires the reader to examine whether their respect for spiritual authority translates into the courage to stand with a persecuted community.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.
Cross-references
- Acts 2:47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
- 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.
- John 12:42 Nevertheless, many of the leaders believed in Him. But because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue.
- John 19:38 Afterward, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus (but secretly for fear of the Jews), asked Pilate to let him remove the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission, so he came and removed His body.
- Acts 19:17 This became known to all the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, and fear came over all of them. So the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.
- Numbers 17:12 Then the Israelites declared to Moses, “Look, we are perishing! We are lost; we are all lost!
- Numbers 24:8 God brought him out of Egypt with strength like a wild ox, to devour hostile nations and crush their bones, to pierce them with arrows.
- 1 Samuel 16:4 So Samuel did what the LORD had said and went to Bethlehem. When the elders of the town met him, they trembled and asked, “Do you come in peace?”
- 1 Kings 17:18 “O man of God,” said the woman to Elijah, “what have you done to me? Have you come to remind me of my iniquity and cause the death of my son?”
- Isaiah 33:14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling grips the ungodly: “Who of us can dwell with a consuming fire? Who of us can dwell with everlasting flames?”