Acts 5:39
New International Version
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

New Living Translation
But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God!”

English Standard Version
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,

Berean Standard Bible
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God.”

Berean Literal Bible
But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow it, lest ever also you would be found fighting against God."

King James Bible
But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

New King James Version
but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.”

New American Standard Bible
but if the source is God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.”

NASB 1995
but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.”

NASB 1977
but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.”

Legacy Standard Bible
but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or you may even be found fighting against God.”

Amplified Bible
but if it is of God [and it appears that it is], you will not be able to stop them; or else you may even be found fighting against God!”

Christian Standard Bible
but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even be found fighting against God.” They were persuaded by him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even be found fighting against God.” So they were persuaded by him.

American Standard Version
but if it is of God, ye will not be able to overthrow them; lest haply ye be found even to be fighting against God.

Contemporary English Version
But if God is behind it, you cannot stop it anyway, unless you want to fight against God. The council members agreed with what he said,

English Revised Version
but if it is of God, ye will not be able to overthrow them; lest haply ye be found even to be fighting against God.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
However, if it's from God, you won't be able to stop them. You may even discover that you're fighting against God."

Good News Translation
but if it comes from God, you cannot possibly defeat them. You could find yourselves fighting against God!" The Council followed Gamaliel's advice.

International Standard Version
However, if it's from God, you won't be able to stop them, and you may even discover that you are fighting against God!" So they were convinced by him.

Majority Standard Bible
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God.”

NET Bible
but if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them, or you may even be found fighting against God." He convinced them,

New Heart English Bible
But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them, and you would be found even to be fighting against God."

Webster's Bible Translation
But if it is from God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

Weymouth New Testament
But if it is really from God, you will be powerless to put them down--lest perhaps you find yourselves to be actually fighting against God."

World English Bible
But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow it, and you would be found even to be fighting against God!”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and if it be of God, you are not able to overthrow it, lest perhaps you are also found fighting against God.”

Berean Literal Bible
But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow it, lest ever also you would be found fighting against God."

Young's Literal Translation
and if it be of God, ye are not able to overthrow it, lest perhaps also ye be found fighting against God.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And if it is of God, ye cannot destroy it; lest ye also be found contenders against God.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But if it be of God, you cannot overthrow it, lest perhaps you be found even to fight against God. And they consented to him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Yet truly, if it is of God, you will not be able to break it, and perhaps you might be found to have fought against God.” And they agreed with him.

New American Bible
But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God.” They were persuaded by him.

New Revised Standard Version
but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them—in that case you may even be found fighting against God!” They were convinced by him,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But if it be of God, you cannot suppress it, lest perchance you find yourself standing in opposition to God.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“But if it is from God, you have no power to destroy it, lest you be found opposing God.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
but if it is of God, you can not bring it to an end: and take heed, lest you be found fighting also against God.

Godbey New Testament
but if it be of God, you will not be able to destroy them, lest perchance you may also be found fighting against God.

Haweis New Testament
but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; and in that case would be found fighters against God.

Mace New Testament
you cannot defeat it; perhaps you may be found warring against heaven." To him they agreed: and

Weymouth New Testament
But if it is really from God, you will be powerless to put them down--lest perhaps you find yourselves to be actually fighting against God."

Worrell New Testament
but, if it be of God, ye will not be able to overthrow them; lest perhaps ye be found even fighting against God."

Worsley New Testament
but if it be of God, ye cannot defeat it, least ye be found fighting even against God.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Gamaliel's Advice
38So in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone. Let them go! For if their purpose or endeavor is of human origin, it will fail. 39But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God.” 40At this, they yielded to Gamaliel. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them.…

Cross References
Proverbs 21:30
There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.

Isaiah 8:10
Devise a plan, but it will be thwarted; state a proposal, but it will not happen. For God is with us.”

Matthew 16:18
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.

Job 9:12
If He takes away, who can stop Him? Who dares to ask Him, ‘What are You doing?’

Daniel 4:35
All the peoples of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth. There is no one who can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’”

Romans 8:31
What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Isaiah 14:27
The LORD of Hosts has purposed, and who can thwart Him? His hand is outstretched, so who can turn it back?

Psalm 33:10-11
The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations; He thwarts the devices of the peoples. / The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the purposes of His heart to all generations.

1 Corinthians 1:25
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.

Psalm 2:4
The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord taunts them.

Isaiah 46:10
I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’

Matthew 15:13
But Jesus replied, “Every plant that My heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by its roots.

Lamentations 3:37
Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has ordained it?

2 Chronicles 20:6
and said, “O LORD, God of our fathers, are You not the God who is in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand, and no one can stand against You.

Psalm 127:1
A song of ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain; unless the LORD protects the city, its watchmen stand guard in vain.


Treasury of Scripture

But if it be of God, you cannot overthrow it; lest haply you be found even to fight against God.

if.

Acts 6:10
And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.

Genesis 24:50
Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.

2 Samuel 5:2
Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.

to fight.

Acts 7:51
Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.

Acts 9:5
And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Acts 23:9
And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.

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Acts 5
1. After that Ananias and Sapphira his wife,
3. at Peter's rebuke had fallen down dead;
12. and that the rest of the apostles had wrought many miracles;
14. to the increase of the faith;
17. the apostles are again imprisoned;
19. but delivered by an angel bidding them preach openly to all;
21. when, after their teaching accordingly in the temple,
29. and before the council,
33. they are in danger to be killed;
34. but through the advice of Gamaliel, they are kept alive, and are only beaten;
41. for which they glorify God, and cease no day from preaching.














But if it is from God
This phrase introduces a conditional statement that acknowledges the possibility of divine origin. The Greek word for "if" (εἰ) is a conjunction that sets up a hypothetical scenario. The phrase "from God" (ἐκ Θεοῦ) implies divine authority and origin. In the context of Acts, this refers to the work and mission of the apostles, suggesting that their actions and teachings could be divinely inspired. Historically, this reflects the Jewish understanding of God as the ultimate source of authority and truth, a belief deeply rooted in the Old Testament.

you will not be able to stop them
The phrase underscores the futility of opposing a divine mission. The Greek verb "to stop" (καταλύω) means to destroy or overthrow. This implies that human efforts are powerless against God's will. Theologically, this reflects the sovereignty of God, a central tenet in conservative Christian doctrine, emphasizing that God's plans are unstoppable and will ultimately prevail. This echoes the biblical narrative where God's purposes are fulfilled despite human opposition, as seen throughout the history of Israel and the early church.

You may even find yourselves fighting against God
This phrase serves as a warning about the consequences of opposing God's work. The Greek word for "fighting" (θεομάχος) literally means "God-fighter," indicating active resistance against divine purposes. Historically, this reflects the tension between the early Christian movement and the Jewish authorities. Scripturally, it resonates with the broader biblical theme of human rebellion against God, as seen in accounts like the Tower of Babel or the opposition faced by prophets. Theologically, it serves as a cautionary reminder that opposing God's will leads to spiritual peril, reinforcing the need for discernment and humility in recognizing God's work in the world.

(39) Fighters against God.--It is interesting to note the recurrence of the same phrase in the reasoning of the Pharisees who took St. Paul's part in Acts 23:9.

Verse 39. - Is for be, A.V.; will not be able to for cannot, A.V.; them for it, A.V. and T.R.; to be fighting for to fight, A.V.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
But
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

if
εἰ (ei)
Conjunction
Strong's 1487: If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.

it is
ἐστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

from
ἐκ (ek)
Preposition
Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.

God,
Θεοῦ (Theou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

you will not be able
δυνήσεσθε (dynēsesthe)
Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1410: (a) I am powerful, have (the) power, (b) I am able, I can. Of uncertain affinity; to be able or possible.

to stop
καταλῦσαι (katalysai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 2647: From kata and luo; to loosen down, i.e. to demolish; specially to halt for the night.

them.
αὐτούς (autous)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

You may even find yourselves
εὑρεθῆτε (heurethēte)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2147: A prolonged form of a primary heuro, which heureo is used for it in all the tenses except the present and imperfect to find.

fighting against God.”
θεομάχοι (theomachoi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2314: Fighting against God. From theos and machomai; an opponent of deity.


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Acts 5:38
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