Acts 5:24

24-26. The startling announcement was not without serious effect even upon the stubborn Sadducees. They were staggered by it, and knew not at first what to do or think. (24) " Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple, and the chief priest heard these words, they were perplexed concerning them, what this might come to. (25) But some one came and announced to them, Behold, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people. " This announcement relieved the perplexity of the Sanhedrim, by enabling them to proceed with business, and relieving them from the unpleasant necessity of dispersing without a good excuse. They now dispatch a more honorable guard after the apostles than they had, at first; for the captain of the temple himself takes command. (26) " Then the captain went with the officers, and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. " The clause, "lest they should be stone," is so arranged as to furnish a reason for both the preceding statements, that they " feared the people," and that they "brought them without violence. " The enthusiasm of the people had been much increased, no doubt, by the angelic deliverance, which was by this time well known about the temple.