Acts 11:17
Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
Acts 11:17 in other translations
| BSB | So if God gave them the same gift He gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to hinder the work of God?” |
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| WEB | If then God gave to them the same gift as us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand God?” |
| ASV | If then God gave unto them the like gift as he did also unto us, when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand God? |
| YLT | if then the equal gift God did give to them as also to us, having believed upon the Lord Jesus Christ, I--how was I able to withstand God?' |
| DARBY | If then God has given them the same gift as also to us when we had believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who indeed was I to be able to forbid God? |
| BBE | If then God gave them, when they had faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the same as he gave to us, who was I to go against God? |
| Webster | Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did to us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, what was I that I could withstand God? |
What does Acts 11:17 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 11:12-18
12-18. we entered the man's house--No mention of Cornelius' name, much less of his high position, as if that affected the question. To the charge, "Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised," he simply speaks of the uncircumcised "man" to whom he had been divinely sent.
Barnes' Notes
Withstand God. Oppose or resist God. He had indicated his will; he had showed his intention to save the Gentiles; and the prejudices of Peter were all overcome. One of the best means of destroying prejudice and false opinions, is a powerful revival of religion. More erroneous doctrines and unholy feelings are overcome in such scenes, than in all the angry controversies, and bigoted and fierce contentions, that have ever taken place. If men wish to root error out of the church, they should strive by all means to promote everywhere revivals of pure and undefiled religion. The Holy Spirit more easily and effectually silences false doctrine, and destroys heresy, than all the denunciations of fierce theologians; all the alarms of professed zeal for truth; and all the anathemas Which professed orthodoxy and love for the purity of the church ever uttered from the icebergs on which such champions usually seek their repose and their home.
(g) "as God gave them" Acts 15:8,9 (h) "what was I" Rom 9:21-26
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 11:1-18
The imperfect state of human nature strongly appears, when godly persons are displeased even to hear that the word of God has been received, because their own system has not been attended to. And we are too apt to despair of doing good to those who yet, when tried, prove very teachable. It is the bane and damage of the church, to shut out those from it, and from the benefit of the means of grace, who are not in…
Acts 11:17 in the original Greek
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Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Acts 11:17
- Acts 10:47
Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
- Romans 9:20-26
Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, …
- Romans 11:34-36
For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
- Job 33:13
Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.
- Acts 15:8-9
And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
- Daniel 4:35
And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
- Romans 9:15-16
For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
- Job 9:12-14
Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou? If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him. How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?
- Matthew 20:14-15
Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
- Acts 11:15
And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
- Job 40:2
Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.
- Acts 5:39
But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- Acts 11:16
Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
- Acts 11:17
Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
- Acts 11:18
When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
Acts 11:17 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Así que, si Dios les dió el mismo don también como á nosotros que hemos creído en el Señor Jesucristo, ¿quién era yo que pudiese estorbar á Dios? |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Si donc Dieu leur a fait le même don qu’à nous qui avons cru au seigneur Jésus Christ, qui étais-je, moi, pour pouvoir l’interdire à Dieu? |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Wenn nun Gott ihnen die gleiche Gabe gegeben hat wie auch uns, die wir an den Herrn Jesus Christus geglaubt haben, wer war ich, daß ich vermocht hätte, Gott zu wehren? |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Si ergo eamdem gratiam dedit illis Deus, sicut et nobis qui credidimus in Dominum Jesum Christum: ego quis eram, qui possem prohibere Deum? |