Acts 5:38
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:
Acts 5:38 in other translations
| 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. |
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| WEB | 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. |
| 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: |
| YLT | and now I say to you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone, because if this counsel or this work may be of men, it will be overthrown, |
| DARBY | And now I say to you, Withdraw from these men and let them alone, for if this counsel or this work have its origin from men, it will be destroyed; |
| 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: |
| Webster | And now I say to you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work is from men, it will come to naught: |
What does Acts 5:38 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 5:35-39
35-39. Theudas--not the same with a deceiver of that name whom Josephus mentions as heading an insurrection some twelve years after this [Antiquities, 20.5.1], but some other of whom he makes no mention. Such insurrections were frequent.
Barnes' Notes
This counsel. This plan, or purpose. If the apostles had originated it for the purposes of imposture.
It will come to nought. Gamaliel inferred that from the two instances which he specified. They had been suppressed without the interference of the sanhedrim; and he inferred that this would also die away if it was a human device. It will be remembered that this is the mere advice of Gamaliel, who was not inspired; and that this opinion should not be adduced to guide us, except as it was an instance of great shrewdness and prudence. It is, doubtless, right to oppose error in the proper way and with the proper temper--not with arms, or vituperation, or with the civil power, but with argument and kind entreaty. But the sentiment of Gamaliel is full of wisdom in regard to error. For,
(1.) the very way to exalt error into notice, and to confirm men in it, is to oppose it in a harsh, authoritative, and unkind manner.
(2.) Error, if left alone, will often die away itself. The interest of men in it will often cease as soon as it ceases to be opposed; and having nothing to fan the flame, it will expire. It is not so with truth.
(3.) In this respect the remark may be applied.to the Christian religion. It has stood too long, and in too many circumstances of prosperity and adversity, to be of men. It has been subjected to all trials from its pretended friends and real foes; and it still lives as vigorous and flourishing as ever. Other kingdoms have changed; empires have risen and fallen since Gamaliel spoke this; systems of opinion and belief have had their day, and expired; but the preservation of the Christian religion, unchanged through so many revolutions, and in so many fiery trials, shows that it is not of men, but of God. The argument for the Divine origin of the Christian religion from its perpetuity, is one that can be applied to no other system that has been, or that now exists. For Christianity has been opposed in every form. It confers no temporal conquests, and appeals to no base and strong native passions. Mohammedanism is supported by the sword and the state; paganism relies on the arm of the civil power and the terrors of superstition, and is sustained by all the corrupt passions of men; atheism and infidelity have been short-lived, varying in their forms--dying today, and tomorrow starting up in a new form--never organized, consolidated, or pure, and never tending to promote the peace or happiness of men. Christianity, without arms or human power, has lived, holding its steady and triumphant movements among men, regardless alike of the opposition of its foes, and of the treachery of its pretended friends. If the opinion of Gamaliel was just, it is from God; and the Jews particularly should regard as important an argument derived from the opinion of one of the wisest of their ancient Rabbins.
(b) "let them alone" Prov 21:30, Isa 8:10, Mt 15:13
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 5:34-42
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…
Acts 5:38 in the original Greek
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Cross references for Acts 5:38
- Matthew 15:13
But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
- Lamentations 3:37
Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?
- Isaiah 8:9-10
Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces. Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.
- Job 5:12-14
He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise. He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong. They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope in the noonday as in the night.
- Isaiah 7:5-7
Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have taken evil counsel against thee, saying, Let us go up against Judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and set a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeal: Thus saith the Lord God, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.
- Psalms 33:10-11
The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
- Proverbs 21:30
There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.
- Isaiah 14:25
That I will break the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders.
- John 11:48
If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.
- 1 Corinthians 3:19
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
- Nehemiah 4:15
And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.
- 1 Corinthians 1:26-28
For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- Acts 5:37
After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.
- Acts 5:38
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:
- Acts 5:39
But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
Acts 5:38 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Y ahora os digo: Dejaos de estos hombres, y dejadlos; porque si este consejo ó esta obra es de los hombres, se desvanecerá: |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Et maintenant je vous dis: Ne vous mêlez plus de ces hommes, et laissez-les; car si ce dessein ou cette œuvre est des hommes, elle sera détruite; |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Und jetzt sage ich euch: Stehet ab von diesen Menschen und lasset sie denn wenn dieser Rat oder dieses Werk aus Menschen ist, so wird es zu Grunde gehen; |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Et nunc itaque dico vobis, discedite ab hominibus istis, et sinite illos: quoniam si est ex hominibus consilium hoc aut opus, dissolvetur: |