Acts 5:39

5:39 but if ¹  it is from God, you will not be able to stop them, or you may even be found ²  fighting against God.” He convinced them, ³ 

Acts 28:27

28:27 For the heart of this people has become dull, ⁴ 

and their ears are hard of hearing, ⁵ 

and they have closed their eyes,

so that they would not see with their eyes

and hear with their ears

and understand with their heart

and turn, ⁶  and I would heal them.”’ ⁷ 

[5:39]  ¹ tn This is expressed in a first class condition, in contrast to the condition in v. 38b, which is third class. As such, v. 39 is rhetorically presented as the more likely option.

[5:39]  ² tn According to L&N 39.32, the verb εὑρεθῆτε (Jeureqhte, an aorist passive subjunctive) may also be translated “find yourselves” – “lest you find yourselves fighting against God.” The Jewish leader Gamaliel is shown contemplating the other possible alternative about what is occurring.

[5:39]  ³ tn Grk “They were convinced by him.” This passive construction was converted to an active one (“He convinced them”) in keeping with contemporary English style. The phrase “He convinced them” is traditionally placed in Acts 5:40 by most English translations; the standard Greek critical text (represented by NA²⁷ and UBS⁴) places it at the end of v. 39.

[28:27]  ⁴ tn Or “insensitive.”

[28:27]  ⁵ tn Grk “they hear heavily with their ears” (an idiom for slow comprehension).

[28:27]  ⁶ sn Note how the failure to respond to the message of the gospel is seen as a failure to turn.

[28:27]  ⁷ sn A quotation from Isa 6:9-10.