Acts 5:39

Acts 5:39 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
• New International Version (NIV)But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!" So they took his advice,
• New King James Version (NKJV)but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.”

Context of Acts 5:39

37After this man, Judas of Galilee appeared in the days of the census and drew away some people after him; he also perished, and all those who followed him were scattered. 38And so in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and leave them alone, for if the source of this plan or movement is men, it will be overthrown; but if the source is God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.” 40They followed his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. 41So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.

Acts 5:39 word by word

εἰ δὲ ἐκ θεοῦ ἐστιν, οὐ δυνήσεσθε καταλῦσαι αὐτούς, μήποτε καὶ θεομάχοι εὑρεθῆτε. ἐπείσθησαν δὲ αὐτῷ,Read the interlinear

• but ifεἰei · ifG1487
• the sourceἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• is Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• you will not be ableδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
• to overthrowκαταλύωkataluō · to destroy/lodgeG2647
• them; orμήποτεmēpote mē pote · lestG3379
• you may evenκαίkai · andG2532
• be foundεὑρίσκωheuriskō · to find/meetG2147
• fightingθεομάχοςtheomachos · opposing GodG2314

Cross-references for Acts 5:39

• Acts 6:10But they were unable to cope with his wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking.
• Genesis 24:50Then Laban and Bethuel replied, “The matter has come from the Lord; so we cannot speak to you bad or good.
• 2 Samuel 5:2Previously, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and in. And the Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be a leader over Israel.’”
• 1 Kings 12:24‘This is what the Lord says: “You shall not go up nor fight against your relatives the sons of Israel; return, every man to his house, for this thing has come from Me.”’” So they listened to the word of the Lord, and returned to go their way in accordance with the word of the Lord.
• Job 34:29When He keeps quiet, who can condemn? And when He hides His face, who then can look at Him, That is, regarding both nation and a person?--
• Isaiah 43:13Even from eternity I am He, And there is no one who can rescue from My hand; I act, and who can reverse it?”
• Isaiah 46:10Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My plan will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
• Daniel 4:35All the inhabitants of the earth are of no account, But He does according to His will among the army of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can fend off His hand Or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’
• Matthew 16:18And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
• Luke 21:15for I will provide you eloquence and wisdom which none of your adversaries will be able to oppose or refute.
• 1 Corinthians 1:25For the foolishness of God is wiser than mankind, and the weakness of God is stronger than mankind.
• Revelation 17:12The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour.
• Acts 7:51“You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did.
• Acts 9:5And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,
• Acts 23:9And a great uproar occurred; and some of the scribes of the Pharisaic party stood up and started arguing heatedly, saying, “We find nothing wrong with this man; suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”
• Exodus 10:3So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, “This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews says: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, so that they may serve Me.

Commentaries on Acts 5:39

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 39But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it - Because his counsel cannot fail; and his work cannot be counteracted. If he be determined that this doctrine shall prevail, it is vain for us to attempt to suppress it. Lest haply ye be found - to fight against God - ̔ . Some have thought that they saw a parallel to these words in the speech of Diomede, when, seeing Mars, associated with Hector, oppose the Grecians, he judged farther opposition vain, and…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 39But if it be of God - If God is the “author” of this religion. From this it seems that Gamaliel supposed that it was at least possible that this religion was divine. He evinced a far more candid mind than did the rest of the Jews; but still it does not appear that he was entirely convinced. The arguments which could not but stagger the Jewish Sanhedrin were those drawn from the resurrection of Jesus, the miracle on the day of Pentecost, the healing of the…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 34-42Verses 34-42 The Lord still has all hearts in his hands, and sometimes directs the prudence of the worldly wise, so as to restrain the persecutors. Common sense tells us to be cautious, while experience and observation show that the success of frauds in matters of religion has been very short. Reproach for Christ is true preferment, as it makes us conformable to his pattern, and serviceable to his interest. They rejoiced in it. If we suffer ill for doing…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 33-40God once again stopped the plans of the Jewish leaders to silence the apostles. This time, he did so through the advice of Gamaliel.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 35-3935-39. Theudas--not the same with a deceiver of that name whom Josephus mentions as heading an insurrection some twelve years after this [Antiquities, 20.5.1], but some other of whom he makes no mention. Such insurrections were frequent.Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 5:39

• Court
• Gamaliel
• Government
• Minister, Christian
• Persecution
• Peter
• Priest
• Prisoners

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Doctor
• Gamaliel
• Haply
• Keep
• Lie
• Privy
• Refrain
• Sanhedrim

Commentaries on Acts 5

• 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