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Acts 5:38

in Acts 5

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.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

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:

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:

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This verse in Acts 5

Commentary

12 notes on this verse

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

Refrain from these men - Do not molest them, leave them to God; for if this counsel and work be of man it will come to nought, like the rebellion of Theudas, and that of Judas of Galilee: for whatever pretends to be done in the name of God, but is not of him, will have his curse and not his blessing. He whose name is prostituted by it will vindicate his injured honor, and avenge himself.

This site's exposition

Some time ago Theudas rose up

on Acts 5:36-39

Gamaliel cites two failed movements, Theudas with about four hundred men and Judas the Galilean, both scattered once their leaders died. His test is that if the work is from God, the council will not be able to stop them.

This site's exposition

Leave these men alone

Wesley counts this advice wise for a sudden and doubtful case, while plain good should be joined and plain evil opposed. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown call the neutral policy wise for the council, yet warn that personal neutrality toward Christ is hostility. Oecumenius notes that Gamaliel commits to neither origin.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers3 voices

A commentator

Oecumenius

Commentary on Acts · Written before 550.

proposed

Gamaliel did not say that it is from God, but neither that the work is human. For with regard to what is from God, those men would immediately have opposed it, whereas what is from humans made them bolder against the apostles. Therefore observe the …

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 14 · Written before 407.

proposed

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.

A commentator

Oecumenius

Commentary on Acts · Written before 550.

proposed

Then, having therefore smoothed the discourse with them, he tries to turn aside the hearers from plotting against the apostles, for fear that, if they set out upon an unhindered occasion, we should, he says, by dying in opposition to God, fall into godlessness, and …

The Medieval Church2 voices

A commentator

Bede

Retractions on Acts · Written before 735.

proposed

And now therefore I say to you: Depart from these men, and leave them alone. In the Greek, it is added: Not defiling your hands.

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on Acts · Written before 1107.

proposed

Having pointed to the examples of false teachers who perished, Gamaliel advises them to think also about themselves: beware, lest in your efforts to destroy others you yourselves perish, because he who goes against what is pleasing to God destroys not his opponent, but himself. …
4 more voices on this verse

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

Let them alone - In a cause which is manifestly good, we should immediately join. In a cause, on the other hand, which is manifestly evil, we should immediately oppose. But in a sudden, new, doubtful occurrence, this advice is eminently useful.
And now I say unto you,....

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

if . . . of men, it will come to naught--This neutral policy was true wisdom, in the then temper of the council. But individual neutrality is hostility to Christ, as He Himself teaches (Lu 11:23).

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase

Refrain from these men - Cease to oppose them or to threaten them. The “reason” why he advised this he immediately adds, that if it were of human origin, it would come to nothing; if of God, they could not overthrow it. This counsel or this work be of men - 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 Sanhedrin; 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 people 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 people 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 human origin. It has been subjected to all trials from its pretended friends and real foes; and it still lives as vigorous and flourishing as ever. […]

The words behind it

26 Greek words

Every 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.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

15 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Matthew 15:13But Jesus replied, “Every plant that My heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by its roots.11 worksLamentations 3:37Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has ordained it?8 worksIsaiah 8:9–10Huddle together, O peoples, and be shattered; pay attention, all you distant lands; prepare for battle, and be shattered; prepare for battle, and be shattered!6 worksNehemiah 6:16When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and disheartened, for they realized that this task had been accomplished by our God.6 worksJob 5:12–14He thwarts the schemes of the crafty, so that their hands find no success.4 worksProverbs 21:30There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.4 works
The other 9 cross-references, with their words ▾
Psalms 33:10–11The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations; He thwarts the devices of the peoples.4 worksIsaiah 7:5–7For Aram, along with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, has plotted your ruin, saying:4 works1 Corinthians 3:19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”3 worksNehemiah 4:15When our enemies heard that we were aware of their scheme and that God had frustrated it, each of us returned to his own work on the wall.3 worksIsaiah 14:25I will break Assyria in My land; I will trample him on My mountain. His yoke will be taken off My people, and his burden removed from their shoulders.”3 works1 Corinthians 1:26–28Brothers, consider the time of your calling: Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were powerful; not many were of noble birth.3 worksJohn 11:48If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”3 worksActs 5:35“Men of Israel,” he said, “consider carefully what you are about to do to these men.1 worksMatthew 7:20So then, by their fruit you will recognize them.-1 works

The walk

8 stops

Each 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

    Lamentations 3:37

    Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has ordained it?

    it leads to

    • Proverbs 19:21

      Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • Psalms 33:9–11

      For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm.

    • Isaiah 46:10

      I declare the end from the beginning, and ancient times from what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’

    • Proverbs 16:9

      A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

  • Through

    Matthew 15:13

    But Jesus replied, “Every plant that My heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by its roots.

    it leads to

    • John 15:2

      He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful.

    • Isaiah 60:21

      Then all your people will be righteous; they will possess the land forever; they are the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, so that I may be glorified.

    • John 15:6

      If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned.

  • Through

    Proverbs 21:30

    There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.

    it leads to

    • Acts 5:39

      But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God.”

Where this verse is studied

About Acts

The Pentecost, El Greco, about 1600, Museo del Prado. Public domain.
The Pentecost, El Greco, about 1600, Museo del Prado. Public domain.
Acts: the study guide →Read Acts 5 →
This page draws on 10 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; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 14; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.

Read on in Acts 5 →