Definition: And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

Explanation: Okay, let's break down this verse from Acts 5:11. It’s a really important and somewhat surprising moment in early Christian history! Here's what it means, explained simply: “And great fear came upon all the church…” – This is the core of the message. It wasn’t just a little uneasy feeling; a massive amount of fear started to spread throughout the entire group of believers who were gathered in that room. Think of it like a sudden, overwhelming wave of worry. “…and upon as many as heard these things.” – This is where it gets interesting. It means that everyone who was listening to what happened – those who were present – felt fear too. It wasn’t just the leaders; it was the entire congregation. So, what's the big takeaway? This verse describes a dramatic and unsettling event. It suggests that these early Christians weren't just passively listening to a story. They were experiencing a powerful and frightening realization – that something significant and potentially dangerous had just happened. It’s like a sudden shock that everyone felt together. What might have happened? The most widely accepted explanation is that Peter was speaking about an encounter with the Devil himself! The phrase "great fear" implies a confrontation, and the story of the robbers (who were trying to steal food) is often interpreted as a symbolic representation of the Devil’s attempts to deceive and corrupt people. It's important to note: The exact details of what happened are debated amongst scholars, but this verse is a cornerstone of understanding how the early church initially responded to an extraordinary event. --- Do you want me to: Explain another verse from Acts 5? Discuss the context surrounding this event (like why it's significant)?