Gamaliel’s Advice
TRANSLATION
(27) And when they had the apostles brought and placed before the council, the high priest challenged them: (28) “We strictly ordered you not to teach in this name. Yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to charge us with this man’s blood.” (29) But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. (30) The God of our forefathers raised up Jesus whom ye killed by hanging him on a cross. (31) God exalted him to his right hand as a prince and a savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive our sins. (32) We are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God hath given to those who obey him.”
(33) When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to have them killed. (34) However, one member of the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, honored by all the people. He gave orders to have the men removed for a time. (35) He then addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you’re about to do to these men. (36) Some time ago, Theudas appeared claiming to be somebody, and a large number, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and as many as had followed him were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. (37) After this, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and persuaded some of the people to follow him. He also died, and all who followed him were scattered. (38) In the present case I counsel you to keep away from these men and leave them alone, for if this plan or undertaking is of human invention, it will fail. (39) But if it is of God, you will not be able to stop them, and you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” (40) So they took his advice. When they called in the apostles, they had them beaten, ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. (41) Then the apostles left the council, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name (of Jesus). (42) And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and preaching that Jesus is the Messiah.
OBSERVATIONS
Acts 5 concluded with the Apostles being examined by the Sanhedrin for continuing to preach and teach in the temple after having been delivered from prison. After being infuriated by Peter’s declaration, “We must obey God rather than men,” the majority wanted to kill them all. However, Gamaliel advised the council to refrain from taking any action against them for the moment to see if this movement was really of God or not. Repetitions included “council” three times (in vss. 27, 33, & 41), “teach/teaching/teaching and preaching” three times (in vss. 28 & 42), “God” six times (in vss. 29, 30, 31, 32, & 39), “kill(ed)” three times (in vss. 30, 33, & 36) along with “died” (vs. 37), the phrases “appeared” and “all who followed him” both twice (in vss. 36 & 37), and designations for “Jesus” (in vss. 40 & 42) including “the name” (vs. 41) and “the Messiah” (vs. 42).
OUTLINE
I. The apostles defended themselves by declaring that they had to obey God rather than men. (27-32)
II. The infuriated council took Gamaliel’s advice and released the apostles after having them beaten. (33-42)
IDEA STATEMENT
Taking Gamaliel’s advice, the Jewish leaders decided not to take further action against the Apostles to see if their movement was of God or not.
APPLICATION
Peter in one statement provided us with a simple principle to follow when governmental authorities oppose the proclamation of the Gospel: “We must obey God rather than men” (vs. 29). Some Christians have interpreted this as a call to civil disobedience, that is, a refusal to obey any restriction the government under which they live imposes on them. However, contrary to those activists who look for any excuse to resist the powers that be, the writers of Scripture devoted far more time to “submission” than to “resistance.”
The classic passage on this subject is found in Paul’s Epistle to the Romans. There he wrote, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore, whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment” (Rom. 13:1 & 2). Peter gave us another important exhortation in his first epistle: “Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people” (1 Peter 2:13-15).
Essentially, the New Testament requires believers to do everything they can to obey and cooperate with the authorities under which they live. Disobedience is only sanctioned when those authorities demand of us something that would force us to disobey what God has clearly commanded us to do such as worship him or proclaim the good news of the Gospel.