Acts 5:26 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

For they feared the people, &c.— This may seem a surprizing change in the people, considering the eagerness with which they demanded that Christ should be crucified: but if we consider that the common people, in many cases, judge without the fixed and inveterate prejudices which entangle the minds of their superiors; and how much the beneficent and incontestable miracles wrought by the apostles, must have affected them, we shall be the less surprised at so great and sudden a change; especially if it be considered also, how vehemently they longed to throw off the Roman yoke, and regain their ancient liberty; for which they still retained a passionate concern,notwithstandingtheyhadbeensooftendisappointed.Fromthe many evident miracles worked in confirmation of our Lord's resurrection and ascension, and the strong proofs that there were of his being the Messiah, very probably they were still ready to hope that he would some way or other bring about the deliverance which they so much expected and desired; and therefore they overawed their superiors from putting the apostles to death, or doing them the harm which they would otherwise have done them.