{Can any man forbid the water?} (M(8874)i to hud(9372) dunatai
k(936c)(9673)ai tis?). The negative m(8874)i expects the answer _No_. The
evidence was indisputable that these Gentiles were converted and
so were entitled to be baptized. See the similar idiom in  Lu
6:39 . Note the article with "water." Here the baptism of the
Holy Spirit had preceded the baptism of water ( Ac 1:5  11:16 ).
"The greater had been bestowed; could the lesser be withheld?"
(Knowling). {That these should not be baptized} (	ou m(880a)baptisth(886e)ai toutous). Ablative case of the articular first
aorist passive infinitive of aptiz(935c) with the redundant
negative after the verb of hindering (k(936c)(9673)ai) and the
accusative of general reference (	outous). The redundant
negative after the verb of hindering is not necessary though
often used in ancient Greek and in the _Koin(825f) (papyri). Without
it see  Mt 19:14  Ac 8:36  and with it see  Lu 4:42  24:16  Ac
14:18 . Cf. Robertson, _Grammar_, pp. 1061, 1094, 1171. The
triple negatives here are a bit confusing to the modern mind
(m(8874)i in the question, k(936c)(9673)ai, to hinder or to cut off, m(885c)
with aptisth(886e)ai). Literally, Can any one cut off the water
from the being baptized as to these? Meyer: "The water is in this
animated language conceived as the element offering itself for
the baptism." {As well as we} (h(9373) kai h(886d)eis). The argument
was conclusive. God had spoken. Note the query of the eunuch to
Philip ( Ac 8:36 ).