Acts 5:35

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

“Men of Israel,” he said, “consider carefully what you are about to do to these men.

American Standard Version (1901)

And he said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves as touching these men, what ye are about to do.

Bible in Basic English

And he said to them, Men of Israel, take care what you do about these men.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And he said to them: Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do, as touching these men.

Free Bible Version

Gamaliel addressed the council: “Leaders of Israel, be careful what you plan to do to these men.

Geneva Bible 1599

And sayd vnto them, Men of Israel, take heede to your selues, what ye intende to doe touching these men.

King James (Authorized) Version

And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.

Plain English Version

Then he said to the council men, “Listen, you Israel mob. We have to think carefully now. You want to kill those men, but listen to this.

Translation for Translators

After the guards had taken the apostles out, he said to the other Council members, “Fellow Israelites, you need to think carefully about what you are about to do to these men, and I will tell you why.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Then he said to them, “Men of Israel, pay close attention to what you propose to do with these people.

Noah Webster Bible

And said to them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do concerning these men:

World English Bible

He said to them, “You men of Israel, be careful concerning these men, what you are about to do.

Young's Literal Translation

and said unto them, 'Men, Israelites, take heed to yourselves about these men, what ye are about to do,

Context

Gamaliel’s Advice

³⁴But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a short time.³⁵“Men of Israel,” he said, “consider carefully what you are about to do to these men.³⁶Some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men joined him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.

Sermons

The Fox or Jackal

Harriet N. Cook

Summary

In Acts 5:35, Gamaliel, a respected Pharisee and teacher of the law, advises caution to the Sanhedrin regarding the persecution of the apostles. He references past uprisings that ultimately failed, suggesting that if the apostles' work is not of God, it will come to nothing. Gamaliel's wisdom highlights the sovereignty of God and the futility of opposing His divine purposes. This passage serves as a reminder that God's plans cannot be thwarted, and it encourages trust in His ultimate control over all circumstances.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

What ye intend to do - Τι μελλετε πρασσειν, What ye are about to do: they had already intended to destroy them; and they were now about to do it.

John Gill Bible Commentary

For before these days rose up Theudas,..... There is one of this name Josephus (d) speaks of, who set up for a prophet, and drew a large number of people after him; pretending, that if they would follow him to the river Jordan, and take their goods along with them, he would but give the word, and the waters would divide and leave them passage to go over dryfoot; but Cuspius Fadus, who then had the administration of Judea, sent out some troops of horse, before they were aware, and killed many of them, and took divers others, and brought them in triumph to Jerusalem, with the head of Theudas. This account agrees with this instance of Gamaliel, only differs in chronology; since, according to Gamaliel's account, this case of Theudas was some time ago, and must have been before now, or he could not have mentioned it; whereas the story Josephus relates, as being in the times of Cuspius Fadus, was several years after this. Some think Josephus is mistaken in his chronology, and then all is right. Others, that another Theudas is intended; who, as Origen says (e), was before the birth of Christ, since he was before Judas of Galilee, who rose up in the days of the taxing, at which time Christ was born: and the phrase, before these days, seems to design a good while ago. This name was in use among the Jews, and is either the same with "Thuda", or "Thoda", so the Syriac version reads; one of the disciples of Christ was so called by the Jews (f), whose name was Thaddeus: or with "Thudus"; one of this name, said (g) to be a man of Rome, is frequently mentioned in the Talmud; and another also that was a physician (h); but both different from this "Theodas". The Vulgate Latin and Arabic versions read, Theodas; and some take it to be a contraction of Theodotus, Theodorus, or Theodosius. Just as Theucharis is put for Theocharis, and Theudosia for Theodosia: but it seems rather to be an Hebrew name; and so Jerom (i) took it to be, who renders it "praise": but who the man was is not certain; however, he rose up, as Gamaliel says, and made an insurrection, boasting himself to be some body, or "some great one", as the Alexandrian copy, and three of Beza's copies read, and two of Stephens's, and the Complutensian cdition; and as read also the Syriac and Arabic versions; just as Simon Magus did afterwards, Act 8:9 and so Josephus's Theudas gave out, that he was a prophet, and promised great things to the people, as to divide the waters of Jordan for them, by a word speaking and lead them through it as on dry land: to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves; who believing what he said, put themselves under his command, and set him at the head of them: who was slain: so Josephus's Theudas had his head cut off by the troops of Cuspius Fadus, the Roman governor: and as many as obeyed him were scattered and brought to nought; some killed, and others taken; and so the faction was quelled, and came to nothing. This instance Gamaliel produces, to show that impostors and seditious persons, such as the apostles were thought to be, seldom succeeded, but generally failed in their attempts, and were blasted; and with the same view he mentions the following one. (d) Antiqu. l. 20. c. 4. sect. 1. Vid. Euseb. Eccl. Hist. l. 2. c. 11. (e) Contr. Cels. l. 1. p. 44. (f) T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 43. 1. (g) T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 19. 1. & Pesachim, fol. 53. 1, 2. & Betza, fol. 23. 1. & T. Hieros. Pesachim. fol. 34. 1. & Yom Tob. fol. 61. 3. & Juchasin, fol. 105. 2. (h) T. Bab. Nazir, fol. 52. 1. & Sanhedrin, fol 33. 1. & 93. 1. & Beracot, fol. 28. 2. (i) De Nominibus Hebraicis, fol. 106. D.

Acts 5:35

Gamaliel’s Advice

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

“Men of Israel,” he said, “consider carefully what you are about to do to these men.

American Standard Version (1901)

And he said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves as touching these men, what ye are about to do.

Bible in Basic English

And he said to them, Men of Israel, take care what you do about these men.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And he said to them: Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do, as touching these men.

Free Bible Version

Gamaliel addressed the council: “Leaders of Israel, be careful what you plan to do to these men.

Geneva Bible 1599

And sayd vnto them, Men of Israel, take heede to your selues, what ye intende to doe touching these men.

King James (Authorized) Version

And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.

Plain English Version

Then he said to the council men, “Listen, you Israel mob. We have to think carefully now. You want to kill those men, but listen to this.

Translation for Translators

Unlocked Literal Bible

Then he said to them, “Men of Israel, pay close attention to what you propose to do with these people.

Noah Webster Bible

And said to them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do concerning these men:

World English Bible

He said to them, “You men of Israel, be careful concerning these men, what you are about to do.

Young's Literal Translation

and said unto them, 'Men, Israelites, take heed to yourselves about these men, what ye are about to do,

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

What ye intend to do - Τι μελλετε πρασσειν, What ye are about to do: they had already intended to destroy them; and they were now about to do it.

John Gill Bible Commentary

Acts 5:35

Verse

Context

Gamaliel’s Advice

Sermons

Summary

Commentary

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Acts 5:35

Gamaliel’s Advice

The Fox or Jackal

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary