Acts 5:39

But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. BUT IF IT BE OF GOD, YE CANNOT OVERTHROW IT - rather, 'ye shall not be able to overthrow it,' [the future duneesesthe (G1410), being better supported than dunasthe (G1410)], LEST HAPLY YE BE FOUND EVEN, [ kai (G2532 ), RATHER, 'ALSO,'] TO FIGHT AGAINST GOD - as well as against these disciples of Jesus. This neutral policy, in the exasperated and murderous temper of the council at that time, was true wisdom; although personal neutrality is hostility to Christ, as Himself teaches (L...

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,...

Verse 39. _BUT IF IT BE OF GOD, YE CANNOT OVERTHROW IT_] Because his counsel cannot fail; and his work cannot be counteracted. If he be determined that this doctrine shall prevail, it is vain for us to attempt to suppress it. _LEST HAPLY YE BE FOUND-TO FIGHT AGAINST GOD._] Μηποτε και θεομαχοι εὑρεθητε. Some have thought that they saw a parallel to these words in the speech of Diomede, when, seeing _Mars_, associated with Hector, oppose the Grecians, he judged farther opposition vain, and desired his troops to retire from the battle. Τῳ δ' αιει παρα εἱς γε θεων, ὁς λοιγον αμυνει· Και νυν οἱ παρα κεινος Αρης, βροτῳ ανδρι εοικως. Αλλα προς Τρωας τετραμμενοι αιεν οπισσω Εικετε, μηδε Θεοις μενεαινεμεν ιφι μαχεσθαι. Iliad, lib. v. 603....

BUT IF IT BE OF GOD - If God is the “author” of this religion. From this it seems that Gamaliel supposed that it was at least possible that this religion was divine. He evinced a far more candid mind than did the rest of the Jews; but still it does not appear that he was entirely convinced. The arguments which could not but stagger the Jewish Sanhedrin were those drawn from the resurrection of Jesus, the miracle on the day of Pentecost, the healing of the lame man in the temple, and the release of the apostles from the prison. YE CANNOT OVERTHROW IT - Because: * God has almighty power, and can execute his purposes; * Because he is unchanging, and will not be diverted from his plans, Job 23:13. The plan which God forms “must” be accomplished. A

EXPOSITION ACTS 5:1 ANANIAS (Ἀνανίας) In Nehemiah 3:23 the Hebrew name היָנְנַעֲ (God covers or protects) is thus rendered in the LXX. But the name occurs nowhere else. The very common name היָנְנַהֲ_, Hananiah _(God is gracious), is also rendered in the LXX. Ananias (Ἀνανίας), and is doubtless the name meant here and in Acts 9:10; Acts 23:2, etc. SAPPHIRA does not occur elsewhere. It is either derived from the Aramean הרָיפָשַׁ, beautiful, or from the Hebrew ריפִסַ, a sapphire. A POSSESSION (see...

BUT IF IT BE OF GOD,.... If it is according to the counsel of his will; if it is a scheme of his forming, and a work to which he has called these men, and they proceed in it on good principles, and with a view to the honour and glory of God: YE CANNOT OVERTHROW IT; it will proceed and get ground, and stand, maugre all the opposition of hell and earth; therefore do nothing to them, or hinder them from going on. Some copies read, "ye cannot overthrow them"; and add, "neither you, nor kings, nor tyrants; wherefore refrain from these men"; so Beza's Cambridge copy. LEST HAPLY YE BE FOUND EVEN TO FIGHT AGAINST GOD; which to do is downright madness, and which no man in his senses can expect to succeed in. There are some sayings of the Jewish doctors which seem to agree with these reasonings of Gamaliel p. "Says R. Jochanan the shoemaker, every congregation, which is for the name of heaven ...

ACTS 5:38-39 The Western text has, as Lake and Cadbury admit, “a vigorous and attractive paraphrase,” which Rendel Harris was tempted to regard as possibly original. 144 In the following translation the chief expansions are italicized: “So in the present case, _brethren,_ I tell you, keep away from these men and let them go, _without defiling your hands;_ for if this plan or this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail; (39) but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them — _neither you nor kings nor tyrants. Therefore keep away from these men,_ lest you be found opposing God!” (For each expansion, see the following comments.) ------------------------- 144 _Expositor,_ Sixth Series, II (1900)...

CHAPTER 5 _ 1. Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1)._ 2. Signs and wonders by the Apostles (Acts 5:11). 3. The second arrest of the Apostles and their Deliverance (Acts 5:17). 4. Before the Council (Acts 5:26). 5. Gamaliel's Advice (Acts 5:34). 6. The Apostles beaten and dismissed (Acts 5:40). With this chapter the scene changes. Beautiful is the ending of the previous chapter, Barnabas having sold his land, laid the money at the feet of the Apostles. He

A HOSTILE ENCOUNTER WITH THE JEWISH AUTHORITIES. This account closely resembles that in ch. 4; the imprisonment is at the hands of the same men, extends over one night, and Peter's two declarations (Acts 4:19; Acts 5:29) are very similar. In spite of a few added touches, Gamaliel and his historical reminiscences, we cannot but feel the paucity of materials that were at the author's disposal for this part of his history. As in Acts 4, the attack comes from the Sadducees. If so the motive could only be political. The Resurrection is not mentioned to explain their action; they were filled with jealousy. They could not wish the new sect to become important; a real Messiah would be the end of their power. Here, as in Acts 4, no ground is given for the arrest. Not only Peter and John are arrested but the apostles generally. Th

TROUBLE IN THE CHURCH (Acts 5:1-11)...