Note 5 at Acts 5:24: These rulers were afraid that the news of the apostles' escape would be proclaimed by the people as a miracle thus furthering the cause of Christ instead of deterring it as they had sought to do. Once again, they were consumed with their own carnal interest. The smart thing to have done would have been to repent and join the Christians, but they were too proud to do that (see note 1 at v. 17, p. 597).