The Meaning of Acts 5:38 Explained

Acts 5:38

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:

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;

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 Reverse Interlinear

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: 

What does Acts 5:38 Mean?

Context Summary

Acts 5:27-42 - Folly Of Fighting Against God
The high priest and his party could not forget the imprecation of Matthew 27:25. It haunted them. Compare Peter's description of the Cross as the tree with Deuteronomy 21:23 and Galatians 3:13; also his own usage of the phrase in 1 Peter 2:24. Notice in Acts 5:31 the divine order-Jesus must be Prince, if He is to be Savior. It is because that order is not observed, and men therefore seek to derive His benefits before they concede His rights, that He is unable to deliver them. Christ must be the enthroned Lord and Master of your life, if you want to be saved to the uttermost. See Romans 10:9, r.v. Repentance is His gift equally as forgiveness. Mark that reference to the witness of the Holy Spirit, Acts 5:32. Let us never stand in pulpit or class without being first assured that the truth we utter is such that He can endorse.
Gamaliel had been Paul's teacher. He was very astute and non-committal. He said, "Let us wait and see; the truth will conquer." He expected that the new enthusiasm would die down if it were let alone. He knew that a draught of wind fans a fire. But he lived to see his mistake. We must be warned by Acts 5:42 not only to preach Christ as king in the Temple, but also at home. [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 5

1  After that Ananias and Sapphira his wife,
3  at Peter's rebuke had fallen down dead;
12  and that the rest of the apostles had wrought many miracles;
14  to the increase of the faith;
17  the apostles are again imprisoned;
19  but delivered by an angel bidding them preach openly to all;
21  when, after their teaching accordingly in the temple,
29  and before the council,
33  they are in danger to be killed;
34  but through the advice of Gamaliel, they are kept alive, and are only beaten;
41  for which they glorify God, and cease no day from preaching

Greek Commentary for Acts 5:38

Refrain from [αποστητε απο]
Second aorist (ingressive) active imperative of απιστημι — aphistēmi of Acts 5:37. Do ye stand off from these men. “Hands off” was the policy of Gamaliel. [source]
For if--be [οτι εανηι]
οτι — Hoti gives the reason for the advice. Gamaliel presents two alternatives in terms of two conditional clauses. The first one is stated as a condition of the third class, εαν — ean with the present subjunctive ηι — ēi undetermined with prospect of determination. Assuming that it is from men, “it will be overthrown” (καταλυτησεται — kataluthēsetai first future passive of καταλυω — kataluō to loosen down like a falling house) as was true of the following of Theudas and Judas the Galilean. [source]
Refrain [ἀπόστητε]
Lit.,stand off. [source]
Of men [ἐξ ἀνθρώπων]
Out of men, proceeding out of their devices. [source]
It will come to naught [καταλυθήσεται]
Lit., be loosened down. Used of the dilapidation of the temple (Luke 21:6), and of the dissolution of the body under the figure of striking a tent (2 Corinthians 5:1). See on Mark 13:2. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 5:38

John 2:18 Destroy this temple [λύσατε τὸν ναὸν τοῦτον]
Destroy, Literally, loosen. Wyc., undo. See on Mark 13:2; see on Luke 9:12; see on Acts 5:38. Notice that the word for temple is ναὸν , sanctuary (see on John 2:14). This temple points to the literal temple, which is truly a temple only as it is the abode of God, hence sanctuary, but with a typical reference to Jesus' own person as the holy dwelling-place of God who “was in Christ.” Compare 1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 3:17. Christ's death was therefore the pulling down of the temple, and His resurrection its rebuilding. The imperative in destroy is of the nature of a challenge. Compare fill ye up, Matthew 23:32. [source]
Acts 3:17 And now [και νυν]
Luke is fond of these particles of transition (Acts 7:34; Acts 10:5; Acts 20:25; Acts 22:16) and also και τα νυν — kai ta nun (Acts 4:29; Acts 5:38; 22:32; Acts 27:22), and even και νυν ιδου — kai nun idou (Acts 13:11; Acts 20:22). [source]
Acts 4:29 And now [και τα νυν]
“And as to (accusative of general reference) the now things (the present situation).” Only in the Acts in the N.T. (Acts 5:38; Acts 17:30; Acts 20:32; Acts 27:22). [source]
Romans 14:20 Destroy [κατάλυε]
A different word from that In Romans 14:15. It means to loosen down, and is used of the destruction of buildings. Hence according with edification in Romans 14:19. See on Mark 13:2; see on Acts 5:38. [source]
2 Corinthians 5:1 Dissolved [καταλυθῇ]
Lit., loosened down. Appropriate to taking down a tent. See on Mark 13:2; see on Luke 9:12; see on Acts 5:38; and compare 2 Peter 3:11, 2 Peter 3:12, and the figure of the parting of the silver cord on which the lamp is suspended, Ecclesiastes 12:6. Also Job 4:21, where the correct rendering is: Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them? So Rev. O.T. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 5:38 mean?

And - now I say to you withdraw from the men these let alone them for if be from the plan this or the work this it will be overthrown
Καὶ τὰ νῦν λέγω ὑμῖν ἀπόστητε ἀπὸ τῶν ἀνθρώπων τούτων ἄφετε αὐτούς ὅτι ἐὰν ἐξ βουλὴ αὕτη τὸ ἔργον τοῦτο καταλυθήσεται

τὰ  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
νῦν  now 
Parse: Adverb
Root: νῦν  
Sense: at this time, the present, now.
λέγω  I  say 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
ὑμῖν  to  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
ἀπόστητε  withdraw 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ἀφίστημι  
Sense: to make stand off, cause to withdraw, to remove.
ἀνθρώπων  men 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: ἄνθρωπος  
Sense: a human being, whether male or female.
τούτων  these 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
ἄφετε  let  alone 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ἀφίημι 
Sense: to send away.
βουλὴ  plan 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: βουλή  
Sense: counsel, purpose.
αὕτη  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
ἔργον  work 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: ἔργον  
Sense: business, employment, that which any one is occupied.
τοῦτο  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
καταλυθήσεται  it  will  be  overthrown 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: καταλύω  
Sense: to dissolve, disunite.