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

15“When I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came to these people. This was the same thing that happened to us in the beginning. 16I remembered that the Lord had said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized by the Holy Spirit.’ When they believed, God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. So who was I to interfere with God?” 18When the others heard this, they had no further objections. They praised God by saying, “Then God has also led people who are not Jewish to turn to him so that they can change the way they think and act and have eternal life.” 19Some of the believers who were scattered by the trouble that broke out following Stephen’s death went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and the city of Antioch. They spoke God’s word only to Jewish people.

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 11:15“When I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came to these people. This was the same thing that happened to us in the beginning.
• Acts 15:8God, who knows everyone’s thoughts, showed that he approved of people who aren’t Jewish by giving them the Holy Spirit as he gave the Holy Spirit to us.
• Matthew 20:14Take your money and go! I want to give this last worker as much as I gave you.
• Romans 9:15For example, God said to Moses, “I will be kind to anyone I want to. I will be merciful to anyone I want to.”
• Romans 11:34“Who knows how the Lord thinks? Who can become his adviser?”
• Acts 10:47“No one can refuse to baptize these people with water. They have received the Holy Spirit in the same way that we did.”
• Job 9:12He takes something away, ⌞but⌟ who can stop him? Who is going to ask him, ‘What are you doing?’
• Job 33:13Why do you quarrel with him since he doesn’t answer any questions?
• Job 40:2“Will the person who finds fault with the Almighty correct him? Will the person who argues with God answer him?”
• Daniel 4:35Everyone who lives on earth is nothing compared to him. He does whatever he wishes with the army of heaven and with those who live on earth. There is no one who can oppose him or ask him, “What are you doing?”
• Romans 9:20Who do you think you are to talk back to God like that? Can an object that was made say to its maker, “Why did you make 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