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 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. 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; but 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. 41So they left the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were considered worthy to be dishonored on account of 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• ifεἰei · ifG1487
• it beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• ye cannotοὐou · noG3756
• ye cannotδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
• overthrowκαταλύωkataluō · to destroy/lodgeG2647
• itαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• lest haplyμήποτεmēpote mē pote · lestG3379
• ye be foundεὑρίσκωheuriskō · to find/meetG2147
• evenκαίkai · andG2532
• to fight against Godθεομάχοςtheomachos · opposing GodG2314

Cross-references for Acts 5:39

• Acts 6:10But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Ruach by whom he was speaking.
• Genesis 24:50Then Laban and Bethuel answered, and they said, “The matter proceeds from Adonai. We cannot speak to you bad or good.
• 2 Samuel 5:2Even before, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led Israel out and back. Also Adonai said to you, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel and be ruler over Israel.’”
• 1 Kings 12:24Thus says Adonai: you are not to go up or fight against your brothers, the children of Israel. Turn back every man to his own house, for this matter is from Me.” So they heeded the word of Adonai. They turned and went back, according to the word of Adonai.
• Job 34:29“But if He is quiet, who can condemn Him? If He hides His face, who can see Him? Yet He is over a nation and an individual alike,
• Isaiah 43:13From eternity, I am He. None can deliver from My hand. I act, and who can reverse it?”
• Isaiah 46:10declaring the end from the beginning, from ancient time, what is yet to come, saying, “My purpose will stand, and I will accomplish all that I please.”
• Matthew 16:18And I also tell you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My community; and the gates of Sheol will not overpower it.
• Luke 21:15for I Myself will give you speech and wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute.
• 1 Corinthians 1:25For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
• Revelation 17:12The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour.
• Acts 7:51“O you stiff-necked people! You uncircumcised of heart and ears! You always resist the Ruach ha-Kodesh; just as your fathers did, you do as well.
• Acts 9:5“Who are You, Lord?” Saul said. “I am Yeshua—whom you are persecuting.
• Acts 23:9Then there was a great uproar. Some of the Torah scholars of the Pharisees’ party stood up and protested sharply, “We find nothing wrong with this man! What if a spirit or angel has spoken to him?”
• Exodus 10:3So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, “This is what Adonai, the God of the Hebrews, says: How long would you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, so 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