Luke juxtaposes two contrasting statements about the church's continuing impact (NIV softens this by introducing the second with even though). In the light of the judgment on Ananias and Sapphira, no one else probably refers to non-Christians (Haenchen 1971:242) not believers (as E. F. Harrison 1986:105) or Jewish sympathizers (as Schwartz 1983). They dared not join ("come into the Christian community"—Krodel 1986:123; see Acts 17:34; less likely, "associate with, come near physically"—Longenecker 1981:317) them (the congregation, not the apostles). At the same time these unbelievers, termed the people, praised the congregation of Christians (see also 2:47; 19:17).

Does your church have this kind of impact? As John Stott notes, "This paradoxical situation has often recurred since then. The presence of the living God, whether manifest through preaching or miracles or both, is alarming to some and appealing to others" (1990:113).