Acts 5:13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Rightly so. Peter had already inspired fear by punishing and exposing what was hidden in thoughts. People attached themselves to him all the more, both because of the miracle and because of the first, second, and third preaching. He had performed the first miracle, the second, and the present one. This seems to me not simply one miracle, but a double one. First, he exposed what was hidden in thoughts. Second, by command he deprived a man of life. He says this to show that they were no longer despised as before. In a short time, in a single moment, so much had been accomplished by a fisherman and simple man.

Since the writer had said, "in Solomon's porch," lest you wonder how the multitude permitted this, he says that "no one dared join them, but the people magnified the Apostles," that is, the Jewish people.

"So that they carried the sick out into the streets." Under Christ it did not happen that the sick received healing in the streets and from a shadow.

"No one dared join them," that is, touch them. How, then, does healing take place here? This was the work of Him who said, "He who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also, and greater works than these he will do" (Jn 14:12).

When the Apostle Peter exposed Ananias and Sapphira in sacrilege, and when both at that very hour fell dead at his feet, the heart of the people who heard and saw all this was struck with great fear and trembling.

Therefore “none of the rest,” that is, of the unbelievers, “dared,” says the sacred historian, “to join them.” This means that they did not dare to approach them with the intention of offending them.

“But the people magnified them.” This means that they held them in great esteem and crowned them with many praises.

Moreover, not only did the people magnify them, but a multitude of men and women believed in our Lord Jesus Christ. They increased by their own number the number of those who believed in Him.

While many signs and wonders continued to be done among the people by the hands of the Apostles, unanimity continued to reign among all the Christians. When they came to the temple at the hours of worship, to take part with their countrymen in prayers and hymns to Jehovah, they all remained with one accord in Solomon's porch.

Because of its considerable size, this porch was a more convenient place in the temple for the Christians, who by this time had become very numerous. There they could separate themselves and withdraw from those who did not believe in Christ.

"But of the rest no one dared join himself to them"; v. 13. Here "the rest" means Jews who did not believe in Jesus Christ and therefore did not belong to the Church of Christ. Such people did not dare attach themselves to the community of believers. This was either because the signs and wonders worked by the apostles stirred involuntary respect for Christians among unbelievers, or because they saw the hatred of the high priests and Jewish elders toward Christians. They feared to draw near to them, lest they incur the indignation and vengeance of their rulers. "But the people magnified them," because they saw their piety and virtues, and especially God's favor toward them. By its power the apostles performed such wondrous deeds.

This fearful event brought "great fear upon the whole Church and upon all who heard these things." Naturally, it restrained some who did not feel sufficiently prepared from entering the Church. Yet, in general, the work of conversion continued. The apostles and their followers gathered daily in Solomon's Porch of the temple. Their miracles multiplied.

Third: "of the rest no one dared join himself to them." A certain fear and the people's high reverence for the Christians caused those who did not yet believe in Christ to keep a respectful distance from the believers. They did not dare disturb their united and reverent disposition. Fourth: "the people magnified them," that is, they spoke well of them and with praise, seeing and valuing their high religious and moral qualities.

The separateness of the Christian Church had been expressed even earlier. Christians gathered in a special upper room and in houses for the celebration of the Mystery of Communion. Now, however, all the inhabitants of Jerusalem understood so clearly that they were distinct from the Jewish Church that they did not associate with them.

At the same time, they did not prevent them from gathering in Solomon's porch of the Jerusalem temple. In general they spoke well of the Christians, and some even turned fully to Christ. There were many such people, both women and men.