Acts 5:38

Now I tell you, withdraw from these men, and leave them alone. For if this counsel or this work is of men, it will be overthrown.

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Other translations

WEBBE

Now I tell you, withdraw from these men and leave them alone. For if this counsel or this work is of men, it will be overthrown.

BSB

So 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.

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:

ASV

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 be overthrown:

BBE

And now I say to you, Do nothing to these men, but let them be: for if this teaching or this work is of men, it will come to nothing:

Original Greek

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καὶ kai And G2532 τὰ ta (the) G3588 νῦν nun now G3568 λέγω legō I say G3004 ὑμῖν humin to you G4771 ἀπόστητε apostēte do withdraw G868 ἀπὸ apo from G575 τῶν tōn (the) G3588 ἀνθρώπων anthrōpōn men G444 τούτων toutōn these G3778 καὶ kai and G2532 ἄφετε aphete do release G863 αὐτούς autous them G846 ὅτι hoti for G3754 ἐὰν ean if G1437 ᾖ ē shall be G1510 ἐξ ex from G1537 ἀνθρώπων anthrōpōn men G444 ἡ hē (the) G3588 βουλὴ boulē plan G1012 αὕτη hautē this G3778 ἢ ē or G2228 τὸ to (the) G3588 ἔργον ergon work G2041 τοῦτο touto this G3778 καταλυθήσεται kataluthēsetai it will be overthrown G2647

The early church

Then what is there, he would say, to hinder you to be overthrown? For, says he, "lest haply ye be found even to fight against God." He would dissuade them both by the consideration that the thing is impossible, and because it is not for their good. And he does not say by whom these people were destroyed, but that there they "were scattered," and their confederacy fell away to nothing. For if, says he, it be of man, what needs any ado on your part? but if it be of God, for all your ado you will not be able to overcome it. The argument is unanswerable.
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on Acts

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 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 well, provided we suffer it well, and as we should, we ought to rejoice in that grace which enabled us so to do. The apostles did not preach themselves, but Christ. This was the preaching that most offended the priests. But it ought to be the constant business of gospel ministers to preach Christ: Christ, and him crucified; Christ, and him glorified; nothing beside this, but what has reference to it. And whatever is our station or rank in life, we should seek to make Him known, and to glorify his name.

Read Matthew Henry on Acts 5 →

Cross-references

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Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.