Acts 5:15
What does Acts 5:15 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 5:15 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 5:15 means
The sick are carried into the streets so that Peter’s passing shadow might touch them. This reflects the people’s strong expectation that God is powerfully at work through the apostles. The focus is not on superstition but on the Lord who heals; Luke neither commends nor condemns the shadow idea, but he shows the extent of faith and need. The scene echoes the gospel accounts of people pressing to touch Jesus. The apostles, as His witnesses, continue His compassionate ministry. Public spaces become places of mercy. The verse illustrates the wide impact of the church’s ministry and the hope stirred among the suffering.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000insomuch that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that, as Peter came by, at the least his shadow might overshadow some one of them.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901insomuch that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that, as Peter came by, at the least his shadow might overshadow some one of them.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And they even took into the streets people who were ill, and put them on beds, so that when Peter went by, some of them might be in his shade.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862so as into the broad places to bring forth the ailing, and to lay <FI>them<Fi> upon couches and mats, that at the coming of Peter, even <FI>his<Fi> shadow might overshadow some one of them;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that, when Peter came, his shadow at the least might overshadow any of them and they might be delivered from their infirmities.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890so that they brought out the sick into the streets and put [them] on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter, when he came, might overshadow some one of them.
Context
After noting the church’s growth, Luke illustrates it with vivid scenes of healing ministry spilling into the streets. The attention on Peter’s shadow highlights the apostles’ public visibility and the people’s expectation. The next verse will expand the scope beyond Jerusalem, showing that crowds from surrounding cities also seek healing and deliverance. Together, these verses show the wave of God’s grace spreading outward, even as the authorities’ alarm intensifies. The rising acclaim and crowds contribute to the leaders’ jealousy, which triggers the next section’s arrest and confrontation.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 9:21
for she said within herself, If I do but touch his garment, I shall be made whole.
- Acts 19:11
And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
- Matthew 14:36
and they besought him that they might only touch the border of his garment: and as many as touched were made whole.
- John 14:12
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto the Father.
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