Gamaliel’s Advice
The council is enraged and ready to kill the apostles, but Gamaliel, a Pharisee honored by the people, stands up and has the men put outside. He urges the council to consider carefully what they are about to do.
W33hen the Council members heard this, they were enraged, and they resolved to put the apostles to death. 34But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a short time. 35“Men of Israel,” he said, “consider carefully what you are about to do to these men.
Gamaliel recalls Theudas and Judas the Galilean as leaders whose movements dissolved after their deaths. On that basis he says this movement will fail if it is merely human, but if it is from God the council will not be able to stop it and may find itself fighting against God.
36Some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men joined him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and drew away people after him. He too perished, and all his followers were scattered. 38So in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone. Let them go! For if their purpose or endeavor is of human origin, it will fail. 39But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God.”
The council follows Gamaliel enough to spare the apostles' lives, but it has them flogged, warns them again, and releases them. The apostles leave rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer for the Name and continue every day, in the temple courts and from house to house, to teach and proclaim Jesus as the Christ.
40At this, they yielded to Gamaliel. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them. 41The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42Every day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.