Acts 11:17

¹⁵ And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.

¹⁶ Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.

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?

¹⁸ When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

¹⁹ Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: 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?”
KJV: 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?
WEB: If then God gave to them the same gift as us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand God?”
ASV: If then God gave unto them the like gift as [he did] also unto us, when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand God?
DARBY: If then God has given them the same gift as also to us when we had believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who indeed was *I* to be able to forbid God?
BLB: If, then, God gave to them the same gift as also to us having believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, how was I able to forbid God?”

ÅB: Gav nå altså Gud dem den samme gave som han gav oss, da de var kommet til troen på den Herre Jesus Kristus, hvem var da vel jeg, at jeg skulle være i stand til å hindre Gud?
OTB: Så hvis Gud ga dem den samme gaven som Han ga oss som trodde på Herren Jesus Kristus, hvem var jeg da til å tro at jeg kunne motsette meg Gud?”
B1930: Gav nu altså Gud dem den samme gave som han gav oss, da de var kommet til troen på den Herre Jesus Kristus, hvem var da vel jeg, at jeg skulde være i stand til å hindre Gud?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Acts 10:47
Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
Read in context
Romans 9:20–26
Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
Read in context
Romans 11:34–36
For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
Read in context
Job 33:13
Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.
Read in context
Acts 15:8–9
And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
Read in context
Daniel 4:35
And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
Read in context
Romans 9:15–16
For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
Read in context
Job 9:12–14
Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?
Read in context