Acts 5:38

38 And now therefore I say to you, depart ye from these men, and suffer ye them; for if this counsel either work [or work] is of men, it shall be undone;

Acts 5:38 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 5:38

And now I say unto you
This is the sum of my advice upon the observation of these and other instances:

refrain from these men, and let them alone;
keep your hands off of them, do not attempt to take away their lives, but dismiss them quietly, nor go about to hinder them, in what they are concerned:

for if this counsel, or this work be of men;
if the doctrine these men preach is an human device; or this business they are engaged in is only an human affair, projected by men, and carried on upon selfish principles, and worldly views, seeking only themselves, and their secular interests, and not the glory of God:

it will come to nought;
as did the designs of Theudas and Judas.

Acts 5:38 In-Context

36 For before these days Theudas, that said himself to be some man [For before these days Theudas was, saying himself to be some man], to whom a number of men consented, about four hundred; which was slain, and all that believed to him [and all whoever believed to him], were scattered, and brought to nought.

37 After this, Judas of Galilee was in the days of profession, and turned away the people after him; and all how many ever consented to him, were scattered, and he perished.

38 And now therefore I say to you, depart ye from these men, and suffer ye them; for if this counsel either work [or work] is of men, it shall be undone;

39 but if it is of God, ye be not able to undo them, lest peradventure ye be found to repugn against God. [forsooth if it is of God, ye be not able to undo them, lest peradventure and ye be found for to repugn God.]

40 And they consented to him; and they called together the apostles, and commanded to them [and announced to them], that were beaten, that they should no more speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go [and they left them].