Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 5:14
And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
14. And believers were the more added to the Lord ] In the Greek it is clearly seen that the words rendered to the Lord belong quite as closely to believers as to were added. “Persons believing in the Lord were added to His Church.” The addition of this verse makes clear what has been said on Act 5:13, that the joining there mentioned was an intrusion into the congregation when they were assembled for public instruction. For the increase of the Church was not hindered in any degree. The Christians were held in reverent regard, and the faith which they preached gained multitudes of adherents.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And believers – This is the name by which Christians were designated, because one of the main things that distinguished them was that they believed that Jesus was the Christ. It is also an incidental proof that none should join themselves to the church who are not believers; that is, who do not profess to be Christians in heart and in life.
Were the more added – The effect of all these things was to increase the number of converts. Their persecutions, their preaching, and the judgment of God, all tended to impress the minds of the people, and to lead them to the Lord Jesus Christ. Compare Act 4:4. Though the judgment of God had the effect of deterring hypocrites from entering the church – though it produced awe and caution, yet still the number of true converts was increased. An effort to keep the church pure by wholesome discipline, and by cutting off unworthy members, however rich or honored, so far from weakening its true strength, has a tendency greatly to increase its numbers as well as its purity. People will not seek to enter a corrupt church, or regard it as worth any effort to be connected with a society that does not endeavor to be pure.
Multitudes – Compare Act 4:4.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 14. And believers were the more added to the Lord] Believers:
1. Those who credited the Divine mission of Christ.
2. That he was the Messiah.
3. That he died for their sins.
4. That he rose again.
5. That he ascended into heaven.
6. That he sent down the gift of the Holy Spirit.
7. That he ever appeared in the presence of God for them.
8. That it was he who gives repentance and remission of sins. And,
9. He by whom the world is to be judged.
These were simple articles, of the truth of which they had the fullest evidence.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
This explains the former verse, and helps us against mistaking it, for this wonderful judgment was so far from being a hinderance to the men of the gospel, that it is turned to the furtherance of it; for though great men, and such as were insincere, were terrified from owning Christ and his doctrine, others did more readily embrace them by reason of it.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And believers were the more added to the Lord,…. That is, to the church, as in Ac 2:47 over which Christ was Lord and head; for they were added to the Lord before, by believing in him, when they gave up themselves to him, to be saved by him; and now to the apostles, and the church by the will of God; and this case of Ananias and Sapphira was so far from hindering persons from coming into the church, that there were greater additions made to it than before, even of such as were true believers in Christ. The Ethiopic version reads, “and many were added who believed in our Lord”; the Arabic version, “they that believed in the Lord increased”; the Syriac version, “and they more increased who believed in the Lord”; and so the Vulgate Latin version, “but the multitude of them that believe in the Lord were the more increased”; all of them reading the phrase, “the Lord”, not in construction with the word “added”, but with “believers: multitudes both of men and women”; the weaker sex were not intimidated any more than the men, such power went along with the word, and such grace was bestowed upon them. This church must now be prodigiously numerous, for before these additions, eight thousand had been added to the hundred and twenty; such success the Gospel had, and such progress it made in the hands of such mean and contemptible persons, notwithstanding the opposition of the chief men of the nation to it.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Were the more added ( ). Rather () instead of decrease as one might expect. Imperfect passive indicative of common verb, kept on being added.
Both of men and women ( ). The distinction between and and to be considered in connection with in 4:4 which see.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Were added [] . Imperfect : kept being added.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And believers were the more added to the Lord,” (mallonde prosetithento pisteuontes to kurio) “Then more (the greater numbers of) believers were added to the Lord; Unbelievers are lost, aliens, afar off from God, but they may be made nigh, added to, and in fellowship with the Lord by repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ, Luk 19:10; Eph 2:11-13; Rom 5:1; Act 20:21.
2) “Multitudes both of men and women.),” (plethe andron te kai gunaikon) “Even multitudes of both men and women,” The term “multitudes” means simply a number of people or mass of people, so large that it was not possible to keep an accurate record of names and numbers. Divine chastisement, discipline, or purging from the number of professors to purify a congregation, produces fruits of holiness in believers and respect for the Word and message of God among unbelievers.
Is it not both reasonable and possible that multitudes more would be saved and added to the Lord and His church if His church would be more consistent in exercising excluding discipline upon members who walk in open defiance of moral and ethical principles of Christ and who live as hypocrites in formal church attachment? The church is not to kill people today for lying and base, immoral, unethical behaviour, but it does have divine injunction to purge itself of leaven, putrefaction, and known moral uncleanness that repels the unbelieving world, 1Co 5:5; 1Co 5:7-13; Rom 16:17; 2Th 3:6; 2Th 3:14-15. This verse concludes the parenthetical interlude or interruption begun in Act 5:12.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(14) Added to the Lord.Here, probably, the word is used in its definite New Testament sense for the Lord Jesus.
Both of men and women.The mention of the latter forms an introduction to the dissensions connected with the widows in Acts 6, and is itself characteristic of St. Luke as a writer who had seen and known the effect of the new Religion in raising women to a higher life, and whose knowledge of its history was in great measure derived from them. (See Introduction to St. Lukes Gospel.) So in Act. 8:3 women are named as prominent among the sufferers in the first general persecution.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
14. Believers added Luke had given the increase in numbers formerly, (Act 4:4,) but now they were too numerous for his census.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women, insomuch that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that, as Peter came by, at the least his shadow might overshadow some one of them.’
And the result was that more and more believers were ‘added to the Lord’. They came under His Kingly Rule. The phrase is a beautifully expressive one (also used in Act 11:24). They were added to Him and united with Him by faith as one. And there were many of them and they included both men and women. Furthermore such was the impact of the Apostles that people began to bring their sick and lay them where Peter’s shadow could pass over them. It does not actually say that any were healed in this way. But the belief was that the shadow of a good man could pass on some of his goodness, and they no doubt hoped some of his healing power. (Just as men sought to avoid the shadow of an evil man). What is being emphasised is how the people now saw the Apostles.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
Ver. 14. And believers were the more added ] So little lost the Church by that dreadful doom that befell Ananias and Sapphira, Isa 26:9 . Hypocrites are but the warts, or rather botches, of the Church. When God’s judgments are upon them, the inhabitants of the earth will learn righteousness; they will wash their feet in the blood of the wicked, Psa 58:10 . Let the Lord but kill Jezebel’s children with death, and then all the Churches will take knowledge that it is He that searcheth the reins and heart, and that giveth unto every man according to his works, Rev 2:23 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
14. ] And (not parenthetical, but continuing the description of the dignity of the Apostles) the result of this was that believers were the more added to the Lord (not . , but . ., as decided by ch. Act 11:24 ), multitudes of men and women .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 5:14 . : the favour of the people which still protected the Church ( cf. Act 5:17 ) resulted in further increase of believers, “were the more added,” um so mehr ; imperfect, signifying the continuous growth of the Church; on the verb see Act 2:41 . , plural (only here in N.T.), because not only men as in Act 4:4 , but women also (Weiss), but Bengel “pluralis grandis: jam non initur numerus, uti 4, 4,” to the same effect Blass, “spe fiebat ut magnus numerus accederet, inde plur. hic tantum N.T.”. On St. Luke’s characteristic fondness for this and similar words see Act 4:32 . : this mention of women forms as it were an introduction to the further mention in Act 6:1 ff., cf. Act 8:3 , where women are again mentioned amongst the victims in the general persecution of the Church (see Plumptre’s note, in loco ). This constant reference to the share of women in the ministry of the Gospel and the life of the Church is characteristic of St. Luke in both his writings.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
believers = believing (ones). App-150.
multitudes. Greek. ptethos.
women. Compare Act 1:14.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
14.] And (not parenthetical, but continuing the description of the dignity of the Apostles) the result of this was that believers were the more added to the Lord (not . , but . ., as decided by ch. Act 11:24), multitudes of men and women.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Act 5:14. ) multitudes. The Plural expresses greatness of numbers. The definite number is not now any more given, as it is in ch. Act 4:4.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
believers: Act 2:41, Act 2:47, Act 4:4, Act 6:7, Act 9:31, Act 9:35, Act 9:42, Isa 44:3-5, Isa 45:24, Isa 55:11-13
multitudes: Act 8:3, Act 8:12, Act 9:2, Act 22:4, Exo 35:22, Deu 29:11, Deu 29:12, Deu 31:11, Deu 31:12, 2Sa 6:19, Ezr 10:1, Neh 8:2, 1Co 11:11, 1Co 11:12, Gal 3:28
Reciprocal: Num 23:23 – What hath Psa 45:5 – people Isa 32:20 – Blessed Isa 44:4 – spring Isa 60:22 – little Eze 47:9 – a very great Mar 4:31 – is less than Joh 4:38 – sent Act 6:1 – when Act 11:21 – and a Act 11:24 – and much Act 16:5 – increased
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
A PROPHECY FULFILLED
By the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people ( and believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
Act 5:12; Act 5:14
Nathanael and St. Bartholomew are one and the same person. Some think that Nathanael under the fig tree had been meditating on the story of Jacobs ladder, and that our Lord now tells him that the true ladder is being set up between heaven and earth, even Himself. What a vision this was! And what a long time the faithful, guileless Nathanael would have to wait before he saw the greater things realised. But he did not give way. That day marked the turning-point in his life as a religious man. He gave himself to Christ. He had overcome his prejudice, he had believed and surrendered.
I. Then there came to him a time of testing. For two or three years he followed our Lord in His ministry with the others. He learned the lesson of true life from Christ. He found it hard, as they all did, hardest of all when he had to face the Passion and Cross. Probably he was one of those who forsook Him and fled. But the Easter victory renewed his hope and faith, and on that morning on the lake, as we read in John, when he saw with his companions the same dear Master Who had found him under the fig tree, now risen in His glory and sat down on the shore to eat the humble meal He had prepared for them, he once more committed himself in faith and love to Him Who would never leave him.
II. At last we see him working signs and wonders among the people, filled with the Holy Ghost and power. At last the promise of our Lord is completely fulfilled. He sees greater things. The ladder is set up. The Cross has been lifted up. Christ has triumphed and opened the gate of heaven. Angels ascend and descend. Power comes down to heal the people. The praises of forgiven men and women, washed in the blood of the Lamb, rise up to heaven. God and man are reconciled, and all through Him Who had first spied him out under the fig tree and called him.
III. Let us once more renew our faith in Jesus.He knows us every one as we sit here in church under our fig tree. He knows us in our ordinary everyday life. He wants us. Shall we be prejudiced and keep away, or shall we come and see? Shall we not come to Him, and seek Him where He is to be found in prayer and sacrament?
Rev. the Hon. J. Adderley.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
4
Act 5:14. The aforesaid conclusion is justified by this verse which says that believers were added to the Lord.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 5:14. And believers were the more added to the Lord. This statement confirms the exposition given above of the words, Of the rest durst no man join himself to them. A sense of religious awe kept the crowds who thronged the Temple courts and the people generally from intruding upon them and disturbing them when they met together; but multitudes of both sexes, impressed with the truth of what the apostles were preaching, kept joining the ranks of the believers, and were added to the Lord. The numbers were now so great that the historian of the Acts no longer gives them, as had been his practice on each of the three previous descriptions of the Churchs progress, chap. Act 1:15, Act 2:41, Act 4:4.
Multitudes both of men and women. This is one of several special mentions in the history of the early Church of women.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
14. The statement just made, that “of the rest no man dared to join himself to them,” can not mean that persons dared not join the Church, for the reverse is now stated. (14) “And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.” The increased awe in the presence of the apostles, with which the people were inspired, made them listen with increased respect to their testimony concerning Jesus, and brought them in greater numbers to obedience.
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
Luke stopped giving numbers for the size of the church (cf. Act 1:15; Act 2:41; Act 4:4) and just said that God was adding multitudes of both men and women to the church constantly.