Bible Strands
Acts 11:17
So if God gave them the same gift He gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to hinder the work of God?”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Peter addresses the circumcised believers in Jerusalem immediately after defending his actions toward Cornelius’s household. He speaks at the conclusion of his report to resolve the group’s objections to Gentile inclusion.
The words — The Greek εἰ (ei) means "if" and οὖν (oun) means "then," structuring a conditional rhetorical question. The phrase ἴσην δωρεὰν (isēn dōrean) literally translates to "equal gift," denoting identical divine provision.
The thread — The identical outpouring of the Spirit to Gentiles and Jews appears in Acts 10:47. The rhetorical posture of questioning human authority over divine action parallels Romans 9:20 and Job 33:13.
Why it lands — The text states that God extended the same gift to Gentiles as to Jewish believers, leaving no grounds for human obstruction. It requires readers to cease opposing God's work among those outside their expected boundaries.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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?
Cross-references
- Acts 10:47 “Can anyone withhold the water to baptize these people? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have!”
- Romans 9:20 But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, “Why did You make me like this?”
- Job 33:13 Why do you complain to Him that He answers nothing a man asks?
- Daniel 4:35 All the peoples of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth. There is no one who can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’”
- Acts 15:8 And God, who knows the heart, showed His approval by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us.
- Romans 9:15 For He says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
- Romans 11:34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?”
- Job 9:12 If He takes away, who can stop Him? Who dares to ask Him, ‘What are You doing?’
- Job 40:2 “Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who argues with God give an answer.”
- Job 40:8 Would you really annul My justice? Would you condemn Me to justify yourself?