5:39a

if it is from God: Here the word it refers to “their purpose or endeavor” (5:38c).

you will not be able to stop them: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as stop is more literally “overthrow.” If God gave the apostles his plans and things to do, the Jewish leaders will not be able to make those plans and deeds result in nothing. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

will not be able to overthrow (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
will not be able to destroy (New American Bible, Revised Edition)

them: This word refers to the apostles.

5:39b

The Greek here begins with the word that means “lest” or “perhaps.” Bruce (1990) prefers the latter. For example:

Perhaps you…

But many English versions omit this word.

You may even find yourselves: The Greek is more literally “you might be found.” The Greek grammar indicates the meaning of “might” (something that will possibly happen) rather than “will” (something that will probably happen).

The Greek clause is passive. For example:

You might even be found (Revised Standard Version)

Some languages must translate the Greek passive using the “be” verb. For example:

You might even be

even: The Greek word here is often translated as “and” or sometimes even (as in the Berean Standard Bible). It emphasizes being found to be fighting God. This would be a surprising or unexpected outcome from opposing the apostles. For example:

even (Revised Standard Version)

fighting against God: This refers to doing things that oppose what God wants. Here are some other ways to translate this:

opposing God (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
at war with God (Revised English Bible)

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