What Does Acts 5:13 Mean in the King James?
And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
People can magnify a presence from a distance while no one dares attach themselves to it.
THE MEANING
You can be held in public regard while others still hesitate to draw near. The verse places admiration beside distance: recognition can grow while close attachment remains frightening.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The lie is that public admiration guarantees personal closeness; here, the people magnify the group while no one dares join it.
THE ROOT
κολλᾶσθαι
kollasthai
GROWS FROM
κολλ-
koll-
Glue, stick, adhere closely.
“join himself” in this verse is kollasthai. The Greek verb carries the image of sticking or gluing oneself to someone. English “join” can sound casual, but this word points to close attachment, the very closeness no one dares enter.
ALSO GROWS
kólla: Glue.
κόλλα
This related word makes the image behind “join himself” concrete: attachment as something stuck fast.
proskollaō: Cleave or join closely.
προσκολλάω
This compound uses the same root for a binding, intimate attachment, showing the closeness withheld in Acts.
ἐμεγάλυνεν
emegalynen
GROWS FROM
μεγαλ- (megal-), from μέγας
Great; to make great or enlarge.
“magnified” in this verse is emegalynen. The people are making the apostles great in public regard even as no one attaches themselves to them. Their standing grows while their circle stays at a distance.
ALSO GROWS
mégas: Great or large.
μέγας
This is the basic sense behind “magnified”: the people regard the apostles as great.
megaleios: Magnificent or remarkable.
μεγαλεῖος
This related word carries the sense of greatness made visible, echoing the public esteem in the verse.
THE PATTERN
A presence can command public honor and still make people afraid to draw near.
And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.THE THREAD
For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;The Greek verb behind “cleave” is προσκολλάω, formed from the same κολλ- root as “join himself” in Acts. There the root names close, binding attachment; Acts holds that closeness beside the public regard people keep at a distance.
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