New King James Version
Acts 5:38
38And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing;
Acts 5:38 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
- New International Version (NIV)Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.
- English Standard Version (ESV)So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail;
- New Living Translation (NLT)“So my advice is, leave these men alone. Let them go. If they are planning and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown.
Context of Acts 5:38
36For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. 37After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; 39but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.” 40And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
Read all of Acts 5Acts 5:38 word by word
καὶ τὰ νῦν λέγω ὑμῖν, ἀπόστητε ἀπὸ τῶν ἀνθρώπων τούτων καὶ ἄφετε αὐτούς, ὅτι ἐὰν ᾖ ἐξ ἀνθρώπων ἡ βουλὴ αὕτη ἢ τὸ ἔργον τοῦτο, καταλυθήσεται·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- nowνῦνnun · nowG3568
- I sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- unto youσύsu · youG4771
- Refrainἀφίστημιaphistēmi · to leaveG868
- fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
- theseοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
- letἐάωeaō · to allowG1439
- themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- forὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
- ifἐάνean · ifG1437
- counselβουλήboulē · planG1012
- orἤē · orG2228
- workἔργονergon · workG2041
- beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- it will come to noughtκαταλύωkataluō · to destroy/lodgeG2647
Cross-references for Acts 5:38
- Acts 5:35And he said to them: “Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men.
- John 11:48If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.”
- Nehemiah 4:15And it happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had brought their plot to nothing, that all of us returned to the wall, everyone to his work.
- Job 5:12He frustrates the devices of the crafty, So that their hands cannot carry out their plans.
- Psalms 33:10The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect.
- Proverbs 21:30There is no wisdom or understanding Or counsel against the Lord.
- Isaiah 7:5Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah have plotted evil against you, saying,
- Isaiah 8:9“Be shattered, O you peoples, and be broken in pieces! Give ear, all you from far countries. Gird yourselves, but be broken in pieces; Gird yourselves, but be broken in pieces.
- Isaiah 14:25That I will break the Assyrian in My land, And on My mountains tread him underfoot. Then his yoke shall be removed from them, And his burden removed from their shoulders.
- Lamentations 3:37Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass, When the Lord has not commanded it?
- Matthew 15:13But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.
- 1 Corinthians 1:26For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.
- 1 Corinthians 3:19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”;
Commentaries on Acts 5:38
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 38Refrain from these men - Do not molest them, leave them to God; for if this counsel and work be of man it will come to nought, like the rebellion of Theudas, and that of Judas of Galilee: for whatever pretends to be done in the name of God, but is not of him, will have his curse and not his blessing. He whose name is prostituted by it will vindicate his injured honor, and avenge himself.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 38Refrain from these men - Cease to oppose them or to threaten them. The “reason” why he advised this he immediately adds, that if it were of human origin, it would come to nothing; if of God, they could not overthrow it. This counsel or this work be of men - This plan or purpose. If the apostles had originated it for the purposes of imposture. It will come to nought - Gamaliel “inferred” that from the two instances which he specified. They had been…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 5:38
In the dictionaries
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries