Acts 5:32
in Acts 5We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
KJV
And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
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This verse in Acts 5
Commentary
10 notes on this verseThey did not say, "the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to us," but "whom God has given to those who obey Him," at once both showing humility and revealing great truths, and besides that, also declaring that the Jews themselves could have received the …
This site's exposition
We must obey God
on Acts 5:29-32
Peter answers for the apostles that they must obey God rather than men, setting a limit to obedience where a command stands against God's. Their testimony is joined to the Spirit's, whom God has given to those who obey Him.
This site's exposition
whom God has given to those
Chrysostom and Theophylact note that Peter says given to those who obey, which shows humility and tells the hearers they too could receive the Spirit. Chrysostom also reasons that the Spirit came only because sins had first been forgiven. The Spirit's coming is the second witness.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
Great boldness of speech! And the ground of their credibility: "And so is also the Holy Ghost, Whom God hath given to them that obey Him." Do you observe that they allege not only the Spirit's testimony? And they said not, "Whom He hath given" to us, but, "to them that obey Him:" therein alike showing their own unassuming temper, and intimating the greatness of the gift, and showing the hearers that it was possible for them also to receive the Spirit. See, how these people were instructed both by deeds and by words, and yet they paid no heed, that their condemnation might be just. For to this end did God suffer the Apostles to be brought to trial, that both their adversaries might be instructed, and all might learn, and that the Apostles might be invigorated to boldness of speech.
Of what things are we witnesses? Of His having promised forgiveness and repentance: for the Resurrection indeed was acknowledged, now. But that He giveth forgiveness, both we are witnesses, and so is the Holy Ghost, Who would not have come down, unless sins had been first remitted: so that this is an indisputable proof.
That there was mercy, because he promised repentance. For the resurrection was therefore already confessed.
The Medieval Church1 voice
And we are witnesses of these words, and the Holy Spirit whom God gave to all who obey Him. We are witnesses because we have seen the glory of His resurrection, because we have followed with our eyes as He ascended into the heavens. The …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And we are his witnesses of these things,....
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
We are his witnesses - The word αυτου, his, is omitted by AD, and several others of good note; the Syriac, all the Arabic, Ethiopic, and Vulgate. It does not seem to be necessary. Of these things - Των ῥηματων τουτων, Of these transactions: i.e. of Christ’s life and miracles, and of your murderous proceedings against him. And so is also the Holy Ghost - In the gift of tongues lately communicated; and by his power and influence on our souls, by which we are enabled to give irresistible witness of our Lord’s resurrection.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
And we are his witnesses - For this purpose they had been appointed, Act 1:8, Act 1:21-22; Act 2:32; Act 3:15; Luk 24:48. Of these things - Particularly of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and of the events which had followed it. Perhaps, however, he meant to include everything pertaining to the life, teachings, and death of the Lord Jesus. And so is also ... - The descent of the Holy Spirit to endow them with remarkable gifts Act 2:1-4, to awaken and convert such a multitude Act 2:41; Act 4:4; Act 5:14, was an unanswerable attestation of the truth of these doctrines and of the Christian religion. So manifest and decided was the presence of God attending them, that “they” could have no doubt that what they said was true; and so open and public was this attestation, that it was an evidence to all the people of the truth of their doctrine.
The words behind it
19 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἡμεῖς | hemeis | we ourselves | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| ἐσμεν | esmen | are | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| μάρτυρες | martures | witnesses | G3144 → | 35 times |
| τῶν | ton | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ῥημάτων | rhematon | declarations | G4487 → | 68 times |
| τούτων | touton | these | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| καὶ | kai | and also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πνεῦμα | pneuma | Spirit | G4151 → | 378 times |
| τὸ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἅγιον | hagion | Holy | G40 → | 220 times |
| ὃ | ho | whom | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| ἔδωκεν | edoken | has given | G1325 → | 412 times |
| ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεὸς | theos | God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| τοῖς | tois | to those | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πειθαρχοῦσιν | peitharchousin | obeying | G3980 → | 4 times |
| αὐτῷ. | auto | Him. | G846 → | 5565 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἡμεῖςwe ourselves
hemeisG3165 →1936 times
ἐσμενare
esmenG1510 →2333 times
μάρτυρεςwitnesses
marturesG3144 →35 times
τῶνof the
tonG3588 →19766 times
ῥημάτωνdeclarations
rhematonG4487 →68 times
τούτωνthese
toutonG3778 →1381 times
καὶand also
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
πνεῦμαSpirit
pneumaG4151 →378 times
τὸ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
ἅγιονHoly
hagionG40 →220 times
ὃwhom
hoG3739 →1405 times
ἔδωκενhas given
edokenG1325 →412 times
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
θεὸςGod
theosG2316 →1312 times
τοῖςto those
toisG3588 →19766 times
πειθαρχοῦσινobeying
peitharchousinG3980 →4 times
αὐτῷ.Him.
autoG846 →5565 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Acts 1:8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
it leads to
- Matthew 28:19
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
- Mark 16:15
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
- Romans 15:19
by the power of signs and wonders, and by the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.
- Acts 4:33
With great power the apostles continued to give their testimony about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And abundant grace was upon them all.
- Acts 6:8
Now Stephen, who was full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.
- Matthew 28:19
Through
Acts 5:29But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.
it leads to
- Acts 4:19
But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than God.
- 1 Samuel 15:24
Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned; I have transgressed the LORD’s commandment and your instructions, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.
- Mark 7:7–9
They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’
- Acts 4:19
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies20
- Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5)
- Hanged on a tree
- Holiness and Purity
- Integrity
- Daniel's Open Window
- Rejoice in the Lord Always
Show the next 6 titles
About Acts

This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on Acts; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Retractions on Acts; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 13; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.
