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“As I began to speak,” Peter continued, “the Holy Spirit fell on them, just as he fell on us at the beginning. 16Then I thought of the Lord’s words when he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ And since God gave these Gentiles the same gift he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to stand in God’s way?” 18When the others heard this, they stopped objecting and began praising God. They said, “We can see that God has also given the Gentiles the privilege of repenting of their sins and receiving eternal life.” 19Meanwhile, the believers who had been scattered during the persecution after Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria. They preached the word of God, but only to 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 11:15“As I began to speak,” Peter continued, “the Holy Spirit fell on them, just as he fell on us at the beginning.
• Acts 15:8God knows people’s hearts, and he confirmed that he accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us.
• Matthew 20:14Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you.
• Romans 9:15For God said to Moses, “I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.”
• Romans 11:34For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice?
• Acts 10:47“Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?”
• Job 9:12If he snatches someone in death, who can stop him? Who dares to ask, ‘What are you doing?’
• Job 33:13So why are you bringing a charge against him? Why say he does not respond to people’s complaints?
• Job 40:2“Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?”
• Daniel 4:35All the people of the earth are nothing compared to him. He does as he pleases among the angels of heaven and among the people of the earth. No one can stop him or say to him, ‘What do you mean by doing these things?’
• Romans 9:20No, don’t say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created 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