5:12 Now many miraculous signs 4 and wonders came about among the people through the hands of the apostles. By 5 common consent 6 they were all meeting together in Solomon’s Portico. 7 5:13 None of the rest dared to join them, 8 but the people held them in high honor. 9 5:14 More and more believers in the Lord were added to their number, 10 crowds of both men and women.
1 tn Grk “And great.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.
2 tn Or “fear came on,” “fear seized”; Grk “fear happened to.”
3 sn This is the first occurrence of the term church (ἐκκλησία, ekklhsia) in Acts. It refers to an assembly of people.
4 tn The miraculous nature of these signs is implied in the context.
5 tn Grk “And by.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.
6 tn Or “With one mind.”
7 tn Or “colonnade”; Grk “stoa.”
sn Solomon’s Portico was a covered walkway formed by rows of columns supporting a roof and open on the inner side facing the center of the temple complex. Located beside the Court of the Gentiles, it was a very public area.
8 tn Or “to associate with them.” The group was beginning to have a controversial separate identity. People were cautious about joining them. The next verse suggests that the phrase “none of the rest” in this verse is rhetorical hyperbole.
9 tn Or “the people thought very highly of them.”
10 tn Or “More and more believers were added to the Lord.”