Tree of Life Version
Acts 5:38
38So now I tell you, stay away from these men and leave them alone. For if this plan or undertaking is of men, it will come to an end;
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 King James Version (NKJV)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;
Context of Acts 5:38
36For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody; and a number of men, maybe four hundred, joined up with him. He was killed, and all who followed him were scattered and came to nothing. 37After this fellow, Judah the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and got people to follow him. He also perished, and all who followed him were scattered. So now I tell you, stay away from these men and leave them alone. For if this plan or undertaking is of men, it will come to an end; 39but if it is of God, you will not be able to stop them. You might even be found fighting against God.” They took his advice, 40called in the emissaries, flogged them, ordered them not to continue speaking in the name of Yeshua, 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 5:35Then he said to them, “Men of Israel, be careful what you are about to do with these men.
- John 11:48If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our holy place and our nation.”
- Nehemiah 4:15So we continued the work with half the men holding spears, from dawn until the stars came out.
- Job 5:12Who frustrates the plans of the crafty, so that their hands attain no success.
- Psalms 33:10Adonai foils the purpose of the nations. He thwarts the plans of the peoples.
- Proverbs 21:30There is no wisdom, there is no understanding, there is no counsel— against Adonai.
- Isaiah 7:5because Aram has plotted harm against you, along with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah saying,
- Isaiah 8:9Make an uproar, O peoples— but you will be broken in pieces. Give ear, all you of far countries. Arm yourselves—yet be shattered! Arm yourselves—yet be shattered!
- Isaiah 14:25I will break Assyria in My land. On My mountains I will trample him. Then his yoke will be taken off them, his burden removed from their shoulder.
- Lamentations 3:37Who speaks and it comes to pass unless the Lord has decreed it?
- Matthew 15:13But He replied, “Every plant that My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.
- 1 Corinthians 1:26For you see your calling, brothers and sisters, that not many are wise according to human standards, not many are powerful, and not many are born well.
- 1 Corinthians 3:19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the sight of God. For it is written, “He catches the clever in their 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
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