Acts 5:26

5:26 Then the commander ¹  of the temple guard ²  went with the officers ³  and brought the apostles ⁴  without the use of force ⁵  (for they were afraid of being stoned by the people). ⁶ 

Matthew 21:46

21:46 They wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowds, because the crowds ⁷  regarded him as a prophet.

Matthew 26:5

26:5 But they said, “Not during the feast, so that there won’t be a riot among the people.” ⁸ 

Luke 19:47-48

19:47 Jesus ⁹  was teaching daily in the temple courts. The chief priests and the experts in the law ¹⁰  and the prominent leaders among the people were seeking to assassinate ¹¹  him, 19:48 but ¹²  they could not find a way to do it, ¹³  for all the people hung on his words. ¹⁴ 

Luke 20:6

20:6 But if we say, ‘From people,’ all the people will stone us, because they are convinced that John was a prophet.”

Luke 20:19

20:19 Then ¹⁵  the experts in the law ¹⁶  and the chief priests wanted to arrest ¹⁷  him that very hour, because they realized he had told this parable against them. But ¹⁸  they were afraid of the people.

Luke 22:2

22:2 The ¹⁹  chief priests and the experts in the law ²⁰  were trying to find some way ²¹  to execute ²²  Jesus, ²³  for they were afraid of the people. ²⁴ 

¹ tn Or “captain.”

² tn Grk “the official [of the temple],” a title for the commander of the Jewish soldiers guarding the temple (thus the translation, “the commander of the temple guard”). See L&N 37.91.

³ tn The Greek term ὑπηρέτης (Juphreth") generally means “servant,” but in the NT is used for many different types of servants. See the note on the word “officers” in v. 22.

⁴ tn Grk “brought them”; the referent (the apostles) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁵ tn Or “without violence.” It is clear, as well, that the apostles did not resist arrest.

⁶ tn Grk “for they feared lest they be stoned by the people.” The translation uses a less awkward English equivalent. This is an explanatory note by the author.

⁷ tn Grk “they”; the referent (the crowds) has been specified in the translation for clarity. Both previous occurrences of “they” in this verse refer to the chief priests and the Pharisees.

⁸ sn The suggestion here is that Jesus was too popular to openly arrest him.

⁹ tn Grk “And he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity. Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

¹⁰ tn Grk “and the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 5:21.

¹¹ tn Grk “to destroy.”

¹² tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.

¹³ tn Grk “they did not find the thing that they might do.”

¹⁴ sn All the people hung on his words is an idiom for intent, eager listening. Jesus’ popularity and support made it unwise for the leadership to seize him.

¹⁵ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

¹⁶ tn Or “The scribes” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 5:21.

¹⁷ tn Grk “tried to lay hands on him.”

¹⁸ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.

¹⁹ tn Grk “And the.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

²⁰ tn Or “and the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 5:21.

²¹ tn Grk “were seeking how.”

²² tn The Greek verb here means “to get rid of by execution” (BDAG 64 s.v. ἀναιρέω 2; cf. also L&N 20.71, which states, “to get rid of someone by execution, often with legal or quasi-legal procedures”).

²³ tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

²⁴ sn The suggestion here is that Jesus was too popular to openly arrest him. The verb were trying is imperfect. It suggests, in this context, that they were always considering the opportunities.