The book of Acts
The advice of Gamaliel
Chapter 5:21(b) to 42
In the morning after having been delivered from prison, the apostles taught the people about the new life in Christ in the temple. The high priest and those who were with him, unaware of this, summoned the council of the elders of Israel, which they called the Sanhedrin.
They sent for the apostles Peter and John in prison, and were very surprised when the guards came back saying that they had not found them there, although it was closed safely with the sentinels at their posts at the gates. The captain of the temple and the chief priests were perplexed.
Meanwhile, someone came to tell them that the men who had disappeared from the prison were in the temple, teaching the people. The captain and the officers responsible for vigilance rushed to get them, but without violence because they were now afraid of being stoned by their audience!
They brought Peter and John before the Sanhedrin, and the high priest accused them “you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!” in disobedience to his strict command not to teach "in this Name." He did not deign to say what this Name was, but everyone understood that it was the name of Jesus the Nazarene, who they had crucified as a malefactor.
The apostles repeated that it mattered more to obey God rather than men, and added that Jesus whom they murdered by hanging on a tree, God had raised up and exalted Him to His right hand to be Prince (Leader) and Saviour, so that Israel might repent and obtain forgiveness of their sins. (Note: "raised up" has the sense of "giving birth" or "creating" - Acts 3:26, 7:37, 13:33). The members of the Sanhedrin were leaders of the people, but the statement of the apostles made it clear that God had put Jesus Christ above them.
They also declared that they were witnesses of these facts, together with the Holy Spirit that God has given to those who obey him. With these few words they announced the Gospel boldly before all the elders of Israel, and proclaimed the witnessing of the Holy Spirit in their midst (by which we have the New Testament).
Hearing this, "they" were furious and wanted to kill them. It is not specified who "they" were, or if it was all the council, but it certainly included the high priest and the Sadducees who did not believe in an afterlife. The original Greek uses a verb that expresses "their heart broke in two", not out of sadness, but because of the hatred that gripped them.
Their fury was so great, they wanted to kill the two apostles. They began conspiring among themselves to sentence the apostles to death without further delay. It would be difficult to find a legal basis for such a thing: they might claim that the apostles were witches because they did healings, but the charge of the high priest was that they had disobeyed the order they had been given not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus (chapter 4:18). This was not a crime carrying the death sentence, so they were facing a serious obstacle.
A Pharisee called Gamaliel, respected by all the people, then stood up to speak and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while. Gamaliel ("recompense of God") was a teacher of the law at that time, with many disciples, including Saul, who later became known as the Apostle Paul (chapter 22:3). Gamaliel was a member of the Sanhedrin, as was Joseph of Arimathea (Mark 15:43) and probably Nicodemus (John 3:1).
His deep knowledge of the law, probably greater than any of those present, gave him authority and a certain precedence, even in the presence of the high priest. We do not know what effect the words of the apostles had on Gamaliel, but he did not show the same hatred as the others. Knowing the danger of making a quick judgment, pronouncing an illegal sentence and the serious consequences that could result, Gamaliel urged the council to consider more carefully what they were trying to do to these men.
Gamaliel cited the example of two insurgents, Theudas and Judas of Galilee, who had raised many people after them in revolutionary movements some years earlier on; after these leaders perished, their followers dispersed and the rebellions came to nothing. He concluded that if what the apostles did was of human origin, their effort would also come to nothing (this is not strictly correct, as many godless or heretic institutions have flourished over the centuries); on the other hand, if it was of God, they would not be able to overthrow it, and they would be found in the awkward position of fighting against God. His advice was, therefore, that they should keep away from these men and let them alone.
All the Sanhedrin agreed with this wise and cautious man.
A tradition emerged later, not supported by the Bible, according to which Gamaliel would have sympathized with the apostles and later became a Christian. In reality there is no evidence of that, but the fact that he continued to occupy a prominent place in the religious tradition of the Jews, being the first to receive the title of "Rabbani" (higher than rabbi or teacher), seems to prove that he remained an unbelieving Pharisee for the rest of his life.
On the other hand, we know that the enemy Satan is the prince of this world. One day he will be defeated, but until this happens, his domain can only be overcome by the power of God, which, among other things, works through His servants.
The council called Peter and John again and had them beaten. Their enemies had to punish them for being disobedient, and to seek to intimidate them although they had declared they had a leader superior to those in the Sanhedrin. It was a humiliation and an affront, as at the trial of Jesus.
After that, they released Peter and John, ordering them not to speak in the name of Jesus. They wanted them to be silenced with that instruction; if it was disobeyed, these apostles could be arrested again for a new trial and conviction. Leaving them, the apostles rejoiced - not because they were released, as one would expect, but because they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. These apostles belonged to Him and served Him and their sufferings would contribute to the advancement of His name.
They may have recalled His words at the beginning of His ministry: "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matthew 5: 11-12).
After this episode they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus, as the Christ, every day in the temple and from house to house.
R David Jones
21 (b) But the high priest and those with him came and called the council together, with all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
22 But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported,
23 saying, "Indeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing outside before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside!"
24 Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the outcome would be.
25 So one came and told them, saying, "Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!"
26 Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned.
27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them,
28 saying, "Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!"
29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men.
Act 5:30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree.
31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him."
33 When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them.
34 Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while.
35 And he said to them: "Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men.
36 For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing.
37 After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed.
38 And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing;
39 but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God."
40 And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41 So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.
42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
Acts chapter f5. verses 21(b) to 42