GAMALIEL'S GUIDANCE (Acts 5:33-39)
Dr. Paul Manuel—2015
Most people want to be helpful and, given the opportunity, will jump at the chance, especially if it does not require any special effort on their part.
For Christians, Jesus was the most well-known rabbi in First Century Judaism, but he was not the only one at this time nor the most famous among Jews. The New Testament names another, who appears also in contemporary Jewish literature: Gamaliel.1 In this passage, he is the voice of reason at a time when the fledgling messianic movement faced considerable opposition from certain mainline adherents. The Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling counsel, was composed of members from the two main religious/political groups in the first century: Sadducees and Pharisees (which have some parallels to modern political parties: Democrats/Progressives and Republicans/Conservatives).2 At this time, the Sanhedrin was controlled by a Sadducean majority that was not always favorably disposed toward the other party. (Note: Jesus was probably a Pharisee) The Council issued an arrest warrant for the apostles and was ready to have them executed:3
I. Other movements have failed, because they were started by men.
One problem these other movements had was not only that they started with men but that they stayed with men and did not grow beyond them.8 Consequently, when their founders died, the movements they inspired died with them. Gamaliel recognized that these other movements had failed because they were limited by those men’s lifespans. Christianity would have been no different except the founder who died came back to life. Gamaliel was probably aware of the rumor circulating in Jerusalem about Jesus’ resurrection, and that may have given him pause, so here the rabbi’s advice is different:9
Not all religious movements have this shortcoming—being limited to the life of their founder.10
Just because other movements have failed because they were started by men does not mean that all movements will suffer the same fate. Gamaliel turns to the matter at hand, the cause these disciples of Jesus are promoting, which has a quite different point of origin, a difference these Sadducees must take into account.
II. This movement will fail, unless it was started by God.
…in which case no amount of opposition will stop it.
Christianity continues in part because you are among a long line of Jesus’ followers, the number of which has increased exponentially, but numbers cannot be the only measure of success. Mormonism, for example, started from a relatively small band of settlers moving west and has expanded to almost fifteen million members worldwide. Is that group part of God’s global agenda? What marks its difference from mainstream Christianity? …There are several important distinctions between the many pseudo-Christian groups and orthodox, biblical faith, most of which have to do with the deity of Jesus. For example…
You may not be involved in a large congregation. It may not have hundreds of people. (Most Seventh Day Baptist churches have fewer than one hundred members.)19 Nevertheless, in the end, it is not the size of the movement but the source of the movement that matters. As Gamaliel noted, “if it is from God, you will not be able to stop [it].” There is an inexorability to your faith that others lack. No matter how large or compelling other groups seem to be, only what represents God’s agenda will endure.
Gamaliel’s Guidance may seem to have played a relatively small role in the grand scope of God’s plan: Convince this group of Sadducees on the Sanhedrin to release these few disciples of Jesus. Yet by doing so, by arguing convincingly for their freedom, he advances God’s plan because these men will go on to spread the gospel of Jesus to known world.20
A young officer was working late at the Pentagon one evening. As he came out of his office, he saw a General standing by the classified document shredder in the hallway, a piece of paper in his hand. “Do you know how to work this thing?” the General asked. “My secretary has gone home and I don’t know how to run it.” “Yes, sir,” said the young officer, who turned on the machine, took the paper from the General, and fed it in. “Now,” said the General… “I just need one copy.”Most people want to be helpful, but some individuals have a particular idea about what being helpful constitutes. In today’s passage, for example, we see Gamaliel’s Counsel as he tries to help some members of the Sanhedrin who oppose Jesus and who normally look for help only from those who also oppose Jesus, as this rabbi tries to help them see the big picture of what God may be doing.
For Christians, Jesus was the most well-known rabbi in First Century Judaism, but he was not the only one at this time nor the most famous among Jews. The New Testament names another, who appears also in contemporary Jewish literature: Gamaliel.1 In this passage, he is the voice of reason at a time when the fledgling messianic movement faced considerable opposition from certain mainline adherents. The Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling counsel, was composed of members from the two main religious/political groups in the first century: Sadducees and Pharisees (which have some parallels to modern political parties: Democrats/Progressives and Republicans/Conservatives).2 At this time, the Sanhedrin was controlled by a Sadducean majority that was not always favorably disposed toward the other party. (Note: Jesus was probably a Pharisee) The Council issued an arrest warrant for the apostles and was ready to have them executed:3
“We gave you strict orders not to teach in [Jesus’] name…. Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” (Acts 5:28)Before the Council can act on this motion, at least one cooler head prevails.4
A Pharisee named Gamaliel,5 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 little while. Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. (Acts 5:34-35)Despite the fact that he represented the minority party, Gamaliel’s eminence affords him a ready hearing on the board, and he argues for leniency.6 How different the outcome of this encounter might have been without the rabbi’s intervention. He reviews the fates of two prominent figures and of those they inspired, noting that…
I. Other movements have failed, because they were started by men.
Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. (Acts 5:36-37)
A. Theudas had a claim, but he was killed and his followers dispersed.
B. Judas had a cause, but he was killed and his followers dispersed.The Jewish historian Josephus also mentions these two men as anti-Roman revolutionaries. Theudas claimed he would demonstrate prophetic authority by dividing the Jordan as Joshua and Elijah had done. Judas rallied opponents to Roman taxation. Both men had some notoriety and attracted a group of those who agreed with them, but what an epitaph each one had: “He was killed, and all his followers were dispersed.”7
One problem these other movements had was not only that they started with men but that they stayed with men and did not grow beyond them.8 Consequently, when their founders died, the movements they inspired died with them. Gamaliel recognized that these other movements had failed because they were limited by those men’s lifespans. Christianity would have been no different except the founder who died came back to life. Gamaliel was probably aware of the rumor circulating in Jerusalem about Jesus’ resurrection, and that may have given him pause, so here the rabbi’s advice is different:9
Not all religious movements have this shortcoming—being limited to the life of their founder.10
- Mormonism continues, despite the death of its founder Joseph Smith in 1844.
- Christian Science continues, despite the death of its founder Mary Baker Eddy in 1910.
- Jehovah’s Witness continues, despite the death of its founder Charles Taze Russell in 1916.
- The Unification Church continues, despite the death of its founder Sun Myung Moon in 2012.
Just because other movements have failed because they were started by men does not mean that all movements will suffer the same fate. Gamaliel turns to the matter at hand, the cause these disciples of Jesus are promoting, which has a quite different point of origin, a difference these Sadducees must take into account.
II. This movement will fail, unless it was started by God.
…in which case no amount of opposition will stop it.
Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God. (Acts 5:38-39)Gamaliel’s counsel was wise and did, indeed, prove true. Unlike the other movements…
- Jesus had a claim (messiah) and a cause (redemption), yet he was killed and his followers increased.
- There were the sudden deaths of Ananias and Sapphira for attempting to defraud and deceive the Holy Spirit, after which “Great fear seized…all who heard about these events.” (Acts 5:11)
- There were the “many miraculous signs and wonders the apostles performed among the people” (Acts 5:12), when “crowds gathered…from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.” (Acts 5:16)
- There was the supernatural jail break after the high priest and several of the Sadducees attempted to squelch the gospel message, a measure that had the opposite affect because the angel responsible for the apostles’ freedom said, “[Now] stand in the temple courts…and tell the people the full message of this new life.” (Acts 5:20)
Christianity continues in part because you are among a long line of Jesus’ followers, the number of which has increased exponentially, but numbers cannot be the only measure of success. Mormonism, for example, started from a relatively small band of settlers moving west and has expanded to almost fifteen million members worldwide. Is that group part of God’s global agenda? What marks its difference from mainstream Christianity? …There are several important distinctions between the many pseudo-Christian groups and orthodox, biblical faith, most of which have to do with the deity of Jesus. For example…
- According to Mormonism, Jesus is not God.14
- According to Christian Science, Jesus is not God.15
- According to Jehovah’s Witnesses, Jesus is not God.16
- According to The Unification Church, Jesus is not God.17
You may not be involved in a large congregation. It may not have hundreds of people. (Most Seventh Day Baptist churches have fewer than one hundred members.)19 Nevertheless, in the end, it is not the size of the movement but the source of the movement that matters. As Gamaliel noted, “if it is from God, you will not be able to stop [it].” There is an inexorability to your faith that others lack. No matter how large or compelling other groups seem to be, only what represents God’s agenda will endure.
Gamaliel’s Guidance may seem to have played a relatively small role in the grand scope of God’s plan: Convince this group of Sadducees on the Sanhedrin to release these few disciples of Jesus. Yet by doing so, by arguing convincingly for their freedom, he advances God’s plan because these men will go on to spread the gospel of Jesus to known world.20
For the Bibliography and Endnotes, see the pdf here.
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Jim Skaggs