Acts 11:17

Acts 11:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
• New International Version (NIV)So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?”
• English Standard Version (ESV)If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?”

Context of Acts 11:17

15When I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as He did on us at the beginning [at Pentecost]. 16Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ So, if God gave Gentiles the same gift [equally] as He gave us after we accepted and believed and trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ [as Savior], who was I to interfere or stand in God’s way?” 18When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified and praised God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance that leads to eternal life [that is, real life after earthly death].” 19So then [since they were unaware of these developments] those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with [the stoning of] Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, without telling the message [of salvation through Christ] to anyone except Jews.

Acts 11:17 word by word

εἰ οὖν τὴν ἴσην δωρεὰν ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς ὁ θεὸς ὡς καὶ ἡμῖν, πιστεύσασιν ἐπὶ τὸν κύριον Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν, ἐγὼ τίς ἤμην δυνατὸς κωλῦσαι τὸν θεόν;¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Forasmuchεἰei · ifG1487
• thenοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• gaveδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
• themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• the likeἴσοςisos · equalG2470
• giftδωρεάdōrea · free giftG1431
• asκαίkai · andG2532
• unto usἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• who believedπιστεύωpisteuō · to trust (in)G4100
• onἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
• ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
• ·δέde · thenG1161
• whatτίςtis · which?G5101
• wasεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• that I couldδυνατόςdunatos · ableG1415
• withstandκωλύωkōluō · to preventG2967

Cross-references for Acts 11:17

• Acts 11:15When I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as He did on us at the beginning [at Pentecost].
• Acts 15:8And God, who knows and understands the heart, testified to them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us;
• Matthew 20:14Take what belongs to you and go, but I choose to give to this last man [hired] the same as I give to you.
• Romans 9:15For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I have compassion.”
• Romans 11:34For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor?
• Acts 10:47“Can anyone refuse water for these people to be baptized, since they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?”
• Job 9:12Behold, He snatches away; who can restrain or turn Him back? Who will say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’
• Job 33:13“Why do you complain against Him? That He does not answer [you with] all His doings.
• Job 40:2“Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who disputes with God answer it.”
• Daniel 4:35All the inhabitants of the earth are regarded as nothing. But He does according to His will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of the earth; And no one can hold back His hand Or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’
• Romans 9:20On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers [arrogantly] back to God and dares to defy Him? Will the thing which is formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?”

Commentaries on Acts 11:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17God gave them the like gift, etc. - Viz. the Holy Spirit, and its various gifts and graces, in the same way and in the same measure in which he gave them to us Jews. What was I, that I could withstand God? It was not I who called them to salvation: it was God; and the thing is proved to be from God alone, for none other could dispense the Holy Spirit.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17What was I - What power or right had I to oppose the manifest will of God that the Gentiles should be received into the Christian church. Withstand God - Oppose or resist God. He had indicated his will; he had showed his intention to save the Gentiles; and the prejudices of Peter were all overcome. One of the best means of destroying prejudice and false opinions is a powerful revival of religion. More erroneous doctrines and unholy feelings are overcome…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-17Peter reviewed what had happened. He explained that God had directed the whole series of events (11:12). Peter ate with Gentiles (non-Jews) because God made it evident that he should (11:4–12). Peter then saw the Holy Spirit come upon the Gentiles, realizing God accepted and blessed them like Jews who trusted in Jesus (11:15–17; see 1:5). Peter followed God's will by admitting Gentiles to the church.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 12-1812-18. we entered the man's house--No mention of Cornelius' name, much less of his high position, as if that affected the question. To the charge, "Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised," he simply speaks of the uncircumcised "man" to whom he had been divinely sent.Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 11:17

• Catholicity
• Faith
• Gentiles
• Jesus Continued
• Peter
• Regeneration
• Salvation

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• God
• Jesus
• Christ, Messiah
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Jesus Christ
• Arise
• Contend
• Peter

Commentaries on Acts 11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings