Acts 5:39

But if God told them to do these things, you can’t stop them. If you try to stop them, you might find yourselves fighting against God.” The Jewish council men listened to Gamaliyel, and they agreed with him.

Plain English Version

In The King James Version

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

In Context

38So I’m telling you now, don’t kill these followers of Jesus. Let them go. You see, if it was men that told them to do these things, and to tell people about Jesus, nothing will happen.

40They called Jesus’s special workers back to the meeting, and they told the soldiers to hit them with whips. Then the council men told them, “Don’t ever teach people about Jesus again.” Then the council men let them go.

Read all of Acts 5

Cross References

Genesis 24:50Then Rebekah’s brother Laban, and her father Bethuel, they talked to Abraham’s worker. They said, “Those things that you told us, we know that God made them happen. So we can’t argue with you.

2 Samuel 5:2While Saul was the big boss of all of us in Israel, you were boss of all the soldiers. At that time, God told you, ‘One day, you will be the big boss, and you will look after my people, the Israel mob, like a shepherd looks after his sheep.’”

Matthew Henry on Acts 5:27-42

The Seizing of the Apostles; The Examination of the Apostles; The Advice of Gamaliel. 26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, 28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. 29… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Acts 5:39