Devine Scripture

Acts 11:17

What does Acts 11:17 mean?

A plain-English look at Acts 11:17 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Acts 11:17 means

Peter's concluding argument was a powerful rhetorical question: If God Himself had given the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles just as He had to the Jewish believers, who was he to resist or withstand God's obvious will? This question underscored the futility and impiety of opposing a work so clearly initiated and performed by God. It demonstrated Peter's conviction that the inclusion of Gentiles was a divine imperative, challenging the Jerusalem church to align their understanding with God's manifest grace.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

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?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

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?'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

If then God gave them the same grace as to us also who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ: who was I, that could withstand God?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

If thenGod 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 forbidGod?

Context

This verse represents the powerful conclusion of Peter's defense, directly challenging the Jerusalem believers with the undeniable evidence of God's work among the Gentiles. His rhetorical question aims to silence any further contention, framing the issue as one of resisting God Himself. This verse is the culmination of his sequential explanation, preparing the way for the Jerusalem church's acceptance of Gentile inclusion, which follows directly in the next verse.

v.16And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit.

v.17This passage

v.18And when they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then to the Gentiles also hath God granted repentance unto life.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Job 40:2

    Shall he that cavilleth contend with the Almighty? He that argueth with God, let him answer it.

  • Romans 11:34

    For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

  • Acts 10:45

    And they of the circumcision that believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit.

  • Matthew 20:14

    Take up that which is thine, and go thy way; it is my will to give unto this last, even as unto thee.

  • Acts 15:8

    And God, who knoweth the heart, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as he did unto us;

  • Job 40:8

    Wilt thou even annul my judgment? Wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be justified?

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