Acts 5:39

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!"

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them. You might even be fighting against God himself!" The Jewish leaders agreed with what Gamaliel said.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
But and yf it be of God ye can not destroye it lest haply ye be founde to stryve agaynst God.

Hebrew Names Version
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!"

International Standard Version
However, if it is 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.Luke 21:15; Acts 7:51; 9:5; 23:9; 1 Corinthians 1:25;">[xr]

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."

New Century Version
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them. You might even be fighting against God himself!" The leaders agreed with what Gamaliel said.

Update Bible Version
but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; lest perhaps you are found even to be fighting against God. And to him they agreed.

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

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."

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it, and take heed lest ye be found even fighting against God.

Weymouth's 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."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
but if it is of God, ye moun not vndo hem, lest perauenture ye be foundun to repugne God.

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.

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."

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,

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.

Bible in Basic English
But if it is of God, you will not be able to overcome them, and you are in danger of fighting against God.

Complete Jewish Bible
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them; you might even find yourselves fighting God!" They heeded his advice.

Darby Translation
but if it be from God, ye will not be able to put them down, lest ye be found also fighters against God.

Etheridge Translation
but if it be from Aloha, there is no power in your hands to bring it to an end: lest you should be found to have arisen against Aloha.

Murdock Translation
But if it be from God, it is not in your power to frustrate it: that ye may not be found placing yourselves in opposition to God. And they, assented to him.

King James Version (1611)
But if it be of God, ye cannot ouerthrow it, lest haply yee be found euen to fight 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!"

New Life Bible
If it is from God, you will not be able to stop it. You may even find yourselves fighting against God."

New Revised Standard
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,

Geneva Bible (1587)
But if it be of God, ye can not destroy it, lest ye be found euen fighters against God.

George Lamsa Translation
But if it be of God, you cannot suppress it, lest perchance you find yourself standing in opposition to God.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But, if it is, of God, ye will not be able to overthrow them: lest once, even fighters against God, ye be found.

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.

Revised Standard Version
but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!"

Bishop's Bible (1568)
But and yf it be of God, ye can not destroy it, lest haply ye be founde to stryue agaynst 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.

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.

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

Lexham English Bible
But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them, lest you even be found fighting against God." So they were persuaded by him.

Literal Translation
But if it is from God, you will not be able to destroy it, lest even you will be found fighters 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.'

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
but yf it be of God, ye are not able to destroye it, lest ye be founde to be the men, that wil stryue agaynst God.

Mace New Testament (1729)
you cannot defeat it; perhaps you may be found warring against heaven." To him they agreed: and

New English Translation
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 King James Version
but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it--lest you even be found to fight against God."

Simplified Cowboy Version
But if they are riding for God, then you will be opposing the Lord himself."

New American Standard Bible (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."

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."

Contextual Overview

²⁶Then the captain went with the officers and brought them back, without hurting them (because they were afraid of the people, worried that they might be stoned). ²⁷So they brought them and presented them before the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court). The high priest questioned them, ²⁸saying, "We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you intend to bring this Man's blood on us [by accusing us as His murderers]." ²⁹Then Peter and the apostles replied, "We must obey God rather than men [we have no other choice]. ³⁰"The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross [and you are responsible]. ³¹"God exalted Him to His right hand as Prince and Savior and Deliverer, in order to grant repentance to Israel, and [to grant] forgiveness of sins. ³²"And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has bestowed on those who obey Him." ³³Now when they heard this, they were infuriated and they intended to kill the apostles. ³⁴But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law [of Moses], highly esteemed by all the people, stood up in the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) and ordered that the men be taken outside for a little while. ³⁵Then he said to the Council, "Men of Israel, be careful in regard to what you propose to do to these men.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

if: Acts 6:10, Genesis 24:50, 2 Samuel 5:2, 1 Kings 12:24, Job 34:29, Isaiah 43:13, Isaiah 46:10, Daniel 4:35, Matthew 16:18, Luke 21:15, 1 Corinthians 1:25, Revelation 17:12-14

to fight: Acts 7:51, Acts 9:5, Acts 23:9, Exodus 10:3-7, 2 Kings 19:22, Job 15:25-27, Job 40:9-14, Isaiah 45:9, 1 Corinthians 10:22

Reciprocal: Genesis 31:29 - Take 1 Samuel 17:36 - seeing 1 Samuel 23:17 - that also Saul 2 Chronicles 13:12 - fight ye Ezra 6:7 - Let the work Ezra 6:12 - destroy Job 33:13 - strive Psalms 35:1 - fight Psalms 65:8 - afraid Proverbs 19:21 - nevertheless Proverbs 21:30 - General Proverbs 22:12 - eyes Ecclesiastes 3:14 - nothing Isaiah 8:10 - counsel Isaiah 46:11 - I have spoken Jeremiah 26:19 - Thus Jeremiah 36:29 - Thou hast John 9:33 - were Acts 4:17 - that it Acts 12:24 - General 2 Timothy 2:18 - overthrow

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But if it be of God,.... If it is according to the counsel of his will; if it is a scheme of his forming, and a work to which he has called these men, and they proceed in it on good principles, and with a view to the honour and glory of God:

ye cannot overthrow it; it will proceed and get ground, and stand, maugre all the opposition of hell and earth; therefore do nothing to them, or hinder them from going on. Some copies read, "ye cannot overthrow them"; and add, "neither you, nor kings, nor tyrants; wherefore refrain from these men"; so Beza's Cambridge copy.

Lest haply ye be found even to fight against God; which to do is downright madness, and which no man in his senses can expect to succeed in. There are some sayings of the Jewish doctors which seem to agree with these reasonings of Gamaliel p.

"Says R. Jochanan the shoemaker, every congregation, which is for the name of heaven (or God) at length shall be established, but that which is not for the glory of God shall not be established in the end.''

Which one of the commentators q interprets in words still nearer to Gamaliel's language, thus:

"it shall be that that counsel which is for God shall stand and prosper, but that which is not for God shall cease.''

And in another place it is said r,

"all contention (or dispute) which is for God, at length shall be established, but that which is not for God shall not in the end be established: what is contention that is for God? the contention of Hillell and Shammai, (two famous doctors among the Jews,) but that which is not for God is the contention of Korah, and his whole company.''

Some have thought from this advice of Gamaliel, that he was a Christian, or greatly inclined to Christianity; but when it is considered what respect was shown him at his death by the Jews, before observed on Acts 5:34 it will appear that he died a Pharisee; and especially it cannot be thought he had any favourable sentiments of the Christians, since a little before his death he ordered a prayer to be made against them. Maimonides says s, that

"in the days of Rabban Gamaliel, the Epicureans (so the Amsterdam edition reads, but former editions read מינים, "heretics", by whom are meant Christians) increased in Israel; and they distressed the Israelites, and seduced them to turn aside from God; and when he saw that this was greater than all the necessities of the children of men, he stood up, and his council or sanhedrim, and composed another prayer, in which there was a request to God to destroy the Epicureans,''

or heretics, meaning the Christians: and though this prayer is sometimes ascribed to Samuel the little, yet it was composed by him at the hint and instigation of Gamaliel; for so it is said t, R. Gamaliel said to the wise men,

"is there no man that knows how to compose a prayer for the Sadducees? (R. Asher reads "heretics";) Samuel the little stood up and composed one.''

And it is also said u, that

"Samuel the little composed, ברכת מינין, "the prayer for the heretics", before, or in the presence of Gamaliel the elder.''

He made it when he was present, assisting, dictating, directing, and approving. The prayer was this w,

"let there be no hope for apostates, and may all heretics perish in a moment, and all the enemies of thy people be quickly cut off: root out the kingdom of pride, and break, destroy, and subdue them in haste in our days.''

In some forms it is added,

"blessed art thou, O Lord, that breakest the wicked in pieces, and humblest the proud.''

Upon the whole, Gamaliel does not seem to have been a Christian, or to have favoured the Christian religion; but he was, as he is said, Acts 5:34 to be, a Pharisee: and this council, or sanhedrim, were, for the greater part of them, Sadducees, as seems from Acts 5:17 who, as the Jews say, were wicked and base men, men of very ill manners, whereas the Pharisees were רחמנים, "merciful men" x; and such an one was Gamaliel: he was a religious man in his way; a man of humanity, a mild and moderate man, that had compassion and pity for his fellow creatures; and could not give in to any schemes of cruelty and persecution, which the Sadducees were forward to; and upon these principles he acted, and upon these he gave this advice.

p Pirke Abot, c. 4 sect 11. q Jarchi in ib. r Pirke Abot, c. 5. sect. 17. s Hilchot Tephilla, c. 2. sect. 1. t T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 28. 2. u Juchasin, fol. 21. 1. Ganz Tzemach David, par. 1. fol. 25. 2. w Apud Buxtorf. Lex. Talmud. col. 2442. & Alting Shilo, l. 4. c. 26. p. 325. x Juchasin, fol. 139. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But 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 lame man in the temple, and the release of the apostles from the prison.

Ye cannot overthrow it - Because:

1. God has almighty power, and can execute his purposes;
2. Because he is unchanging, and will not be diverted from his plans, Job 23:13-14.

The plan which God forms “must” be accomplished. All the devices of man are feebleness when opposed to him, and he can dash them in pieces in an instant. The prediction of Gamaliel has been fulfilled. People have opposed Christianity in every way, but in vain. They have reviled it; have persecuted it; have resorted to argument and to ridicule; to fire, and faggot, and sword; they have called in the aid of science; but all has been in vain. The more it has been crushed, the more it has risen, and it still exists with as much life and power as ever. The “preservation” of this religion amidst so much and so varied opposition proves that it is of God. No severer trial “can” await it than it has already experienced; and as it has survived so many storms and trials, we have every evidence that, according to the predictions, it is destined to live and to fill the world. See the Matthew 16:18; Isaiah 54:17; Isaiah 55:11 notes; Daniel 4:35 note.

Lest - That is, if you continue to oppose it, you may be found to have been opposing God.

Haply - Perhaps. In the Greek this is “lest at any time”; that is, at some future time, when too late to retract your doings, etc.

Ye be found - It shall appear that you have been opposing God.

Even to fight against God - Greek Θεομάχοι Theomachoi, “those who contend with God.” The word occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. To fight against God is to oppose him, or to maintain an attitude of hostility against him. It is an attitude that is most fearful in its character, and will most certainly be attended with an overthrow. No condition can be more awful than such an opposition to the Almighty; no overthrow more terrible than what must follow such opposition. Compare Acts 9:5; Acts 23:9. Opposition to the “gospel” in the Scriptures is uniformly regarded as opposition to God, Matthew 12:30; Luke 11:23. People may be said to “fight against” God in the following ways, or on the following subjects:

(1) When they oppose his “gospel,” its preaching, its plans, its influence among people; when they endeavor to prevent its diffusion, or to withdraw their families and friends from its influence.

(2) When they oppose the “doctrines” of the Bible. When they become angry that the real truths of religion are preached, and suffer themselves to be irritated and excited by an “unwillingness” that those doctrines should be true, and should be presented to people. Yet this is no uncommon thing. People by nature do not love those doctrines, and they are often indignant that they are preached. Some of the most angry feelings which people ever have arise from this source; and man can never find peace until he is “willing” that God’s truth should exert its influence on his own soul, and rejoice that it is believed and loved by others.

(3) People oppose the “Law” of God. It seems to them too “stern” and “harsh.” It condemns them; and they are unwilling that it should be applied to them. There is nothing which a sinner likes “less” than he does the pure and holy Law of God.

(4) Sinners fight against the “providence” of God. When he afflicts them they rebel. When he takes away their health, or property, or friends, they complain. They esteem him harsh and cruel; and instead of finding peace by “submission,” they greatly aggravate their sufferings, and infuse a mixture of wormwood and gall into the cup by complaining and repining. There is no peace in affliction but in the feeling that God is “right.” And until this belief is cherished, the wicked will be like the troubled sea which cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt, Isaiah 57:20. Such opposition to God is as wicked as it is foolish. The Lord gave, and has a right to remove our comforts; and we should be still, and know that he is God.

(5) Sinners fight against God when they resist the influences of his Spirit; when they “oppose” serious thoughts; when they seek evil or frivolous companions and pleasures rather than submit to God; and when they spurn all the entreaties of their friends to become Christians. All these may be the appeals which God is making to people to be prepared to meet him. And yet it is common for sinners thus to stifle conviction, and refuse even to think of their eternal welfare. Nothing can be an act of more direct and deliberate wickedness and folly than this. Without the aid of the Holy Spirit none can be saved; and to resist his influences is to put away the only prospect of eternal life. To do it is to do it over the grave; not knowing that another hour of life may be granted; and not knowing that “if” life is prolonged, the Spirit will ever strive again with the heart. In view of this verse, we may remark:

1. That the path of wisdom is to submit at once to the requirements of God. Without this, we must expect conflicts with him, and peril and ruin. No man can be “opposed” to God without endangering himself every minute.
2. Submission to God should be entire. It should extend to every doctrine and demand; every law, and every act of the Almighty. In all his requirements, and in all afflictions, we should submit to him, for thus only shall we find peace.
3. Infidels and scoffers will gain nothing by opposing God. They have thus far been thwarted, and unsuccessful; and they will be still. None of their plans have succeeded; and the hope of destroying the Christian religion, after the efforts of almost two thousand years, must be vain, and will recoil with tremendous vengeance on those who make them.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 39. But 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. — Μηποτε και θεομαχοι εὑρεθητε. 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 desired his troops to retire from the battle.

Τῳ δ' αιει παρα εἱς γε θεων, ὁς λοιγον αμυνει·

Και νυν οἱ παρα κεινος Αρης, βροτῳ ανδρι εοικως.

Αλλα προς Τρωας τετραμμενοι αιεν οπισσω

Εικετε, μηδε Θεοις μενεαινεμεν ιφι μαχεσθαι.

Iliad, lib. v. 603.

Protected always by some power divine;

And Mars attends this moment at his side,

In form a man. Ye therefore still retire,

But facing still your foes: nor battle wage,

However fierce, yet fruitless, with the gods.

COWPER.