Acts 5:14

And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)

And {G1161} believers {G4100} were {G4369} the more {G3123} added {G4369} to the Lord {G2962}, multitudes {G4128} both {G5037} of men {G435} and {G2532} women {G1135}.)

and throngs of believers were added to the Lord, both men and women.

Yet more and more believers were brought to the Lord—large numbers of both men and women.

and believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women:

Commentary

Acts 5:14 provides a concise but powerful summary of the continued growth of the early Christian church in Jerusalem. It emphasizes that despite, or perhaps because of, the dramatic events preceding it, genuine believers were continually being added to the community, highlighting God's ongoing work in expanding His kingdom.

Context

This verse immediately follows the sobering account of Ananias and Sapphira, whose deception led to their divine judgment and death (Acts 5:1-11). This event instilled "great fear" in the church and all who heard of it, underscoring the seriousness of commitment to God and the holiness of the early community. Directly after this, the apostles continued to perform many signs and wonders among the people (Acts 5:12), which garnered respect and awe from the general populace. It was in this atmosphere of both reverence for God's power and awe at the apostles' ministry that the church experienced remarkable and sustained growth.

Key Themes

  • Divine Growth: The phrase "added to the Lord" is crucial. It signifies that the increase was not merely a matter of people joining a new social group, but of genuine conversion and commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord. This highlights God's active role as the primary agent in the church's expansion, affirming that true spiritual growth is a divine work.
  • Authenticity and Purity: The judgment on Ananias and Sapphira purified the church, establishing a clear standard of truthfulness and holiness. This authenticity, combined with the visible power of the apostles' miracles, served as a compelling witness to outsiders, drawing them to a community where God's presence was clearly evident.
  • Widespread Appeal: The mention of "multitudes both of men and women" indicates that the Gospel message resonated across all segments of society, transcending gender and social distinctions. This continuous influx of diverse believers demonstrates the broad reach and transformative power of the Holy Spirit's work, building on earlier instances of significant growth seen in Acts 2:47 and Acts 4:4.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek verb used for "added" is prostithēmi (προστίθημι), meaning "to put to, add, join to, or put besides." Its use in the passive voice, "were the more added," emphasizes that this increase was something being done to them, implying divine agency. The phrase "to the Lord" (τῷ Κυρίῳ - tō Kyriō) explicitly identifies the object of their new allegiance and faith, underscoring that their conversion was to Christ Himself, not merely to a human organization.

Practical Application

Acts 5:14 serves as a powerful reminder that genuine church growth is ultimately God's work. While believers are called to share the Gospel and live authentically, it is the Lord who draws people to Himself. This verse encourages the church today to prioritize spiritual purity, live out a compelling witness through word and deed, and trust in the Holy Spirit's power to add to their number. It challenges us to create environments where people are not just joining a group, but truly being transformed and added to the Lord.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Acts 2:47

    Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

  • Isaiah 55:11

    So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper [in the thing] whereto I sent it.

  • Isaiah 55:13

    Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign [that] shall not be cut off.

  • Acts 8:3

    As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed [them] to prison.

  • Deuteronomy 31:11

    When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing.

  • Deuteronomy 31:12

    Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that [is] within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law:

  • Nehemiah 8:2

    And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.
← Back