Tafsir of At-Tur 52:26

(They said), meaning the ones being questioned—and they are each one of them in reality—(Indeed, we were before), meaning before this state, (among our people, fearful), meaning tender-hearted, afraid of disobeying Allah (Mighty and Majestic is He), attentive to obeying Him (Glorified is He), or apprehensive of the outcome.

And regarding "among our people": It is said that it is possible that it is a metonymy for this occurring in the worldly life, and it is possible that it is an explanation that their fear was within themselves and within their families due to their being dependents upon them by custom.