The apostles were brought in and made to appear before
the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest… When they [the
Sanhedrin] heard the apostles, they were furious and wanted to put them
to death. But a Pharisee called Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was
honoured by all the people, stood up… Acts 5:27, 33-34
I don’t know about you, but it seems to me that Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un are like two children in the playground as they fling their infantile and inflammatory insults at one another across the world. (“Little rocket man”, for goodness’ sake!) Only difference: incredibly, these are two world leaders, and their spat could result in destruction and horror such as you’d rather not think about. (How unutterably stupid can you get?)
Which brings me to Gamaliel…
Gamaliel? Who was he?
Well, please read the story for yourself in Acts 5:17-42. I can only say that I have always had a soft spot for him, even though he pops up just twice in the New Testament. The other place is Acts 22:3, where Paul, under arrest, says that he “studied under Gamaliel”. He was a well-known and much respected Jewish teacher.
(Interestingly, a Jewish document from about this time tells us a little more about him: “Since Rabban Gamaliel the Elder died there has been no more reverence for the Law, and purity and abstinence died out at the same time” (The Mishnah, a written version of Jewish traditions. “Rabban” means “Our teacher”, a higher title than “Rabbi, “My teacher”.))
The story in Acts 5 can be summed up like this.
The apostles of Jesus are in trouble with the Jewish leaders. They are hauled up before the Sanhedrin, or Council, and told never again to preach about Jesus. They refuse to agree: “We must obey God rather than men!” Whereupon the religious leaders “were furious and wanted to put them to death.”
A nasty situation. And this is where Gamaliel steps in. He calms the atmosphere, pointing out that the apostles aren’t the first and won’t be the last to be trouble-makers. His speech finishes with these splendid words: “…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.”
Luke adds: “His speech persuaded them.” (Perhaps he could also have added “and everyone breathed a sigh of relief”.)
Reports spread later that Gamaliel eventually became a follower of Jesus. Unfortunately, there is no hard evidence for this. But undoubtedly his intervention at this key point saved the church from what could have proved a major crisis. Thank God for unbelievers even today who speak up for God’s people!
Gamaliel stands for us as a model of wisdom and calm. He is a pourer of oil on troubled waters – not of petrol on flames. He reminds me of that lovely little Old Testament saying: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). Indeed, he reminds me of Jesus himself, standing mute before his accusers before he was crucified. He reminds me of Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9).
Angry confrontation is a sad feature of our modern world – and not just among world leaders who should know better. Footballers square up to one another on the pitch. Politicians sling vitriol at one another. On-line trolls post vile messages about people they have taken a dislike to for no particular reason.
And, of course, it can happen in church life. I heard of a church where an ambulance had to be called to a meeting because one man had been “decked” by another (yes, really). It can happen in family life, where a build-up of tensions at last explodes in hurtful words and bitter recriminations. It can happen in the work-place. It can happen… oh, it can happen anywhere.
The question is: have we trained ourselves to be Gamaliels in such situations?
Even if Gamaliel never did become a Christian, he certainly spoke more than he knew at the time. He said, in effect, that in the end truth simply cannot be suppressed: if the message of the apostles is true, he said, “you will not be able to stop” it. Indeed, “you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
You were absolutely right there, Gamaliel, absolutely right!
Let that be an encouragement to us as we survey a world of troubling political instability and a seemingly struggling and weak church. One day every knee will bow at the name of Jesus!
He is the truth. How then can he not prevail?
Lord God, help me to be a peace-maker, never a trouble-maker. Help me to show love instead of hate. Help me too to have faith in the power of the truth – that in the end it will prevail. Amen.
I don’t know about you, but it seems to me that Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un are like two children in the playground as they fling their infantile and inflammatory insults at one another across the world. (“Little rocket man”, for goodness’ sake!) Only difference: incredibly, these are two world leaders, and their spat could result in destruction and horror such as you’d rather not think about. (How unutterably stupid can you get?)
Which brings me to Gamaliel…
Gamaliel? Who was he?
Well, please read the story for yourself in Acts 5:17-42. I can only say that I have always had a soft spot for him, even though he pops up just twice in the New Testament. The other place is Acts 22:3, where Paul, under arrest, says that he “studied under Gamaliel”. He was a well-known and much respected Jewish teacher.
(Interestingly, a Jewish document from about this time tells us a little more about him: “Since Rabban Gamaliel the Elder died there has been no more reverence for the Law, and purity and abstinence died out at the same time” (The Mishnah, a written version of Jewish traditions. “Rabban” means “Our teacher”, a higher title than “Rabbi, “My teacher”.))
The story in Acts 5 can be summed up like this.
The apostles of Jesus are in trouble with the Jewish leaders. They are hauled up before the Sanhedrin, or Council, and told never again to preach about Jesus. They refuse to agree: “We must obey God rather than men!” Whereupon the religious leaders “were furious and wanted to put them to death.”
A nasty situation. And this is where Gamaliel steps in. He calms the atmosphere, pointing out that the apostles aren’t the first and won’t be the last to be trouble-makers. His speech finishes with these splendid words: “…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.”
Luke adds: “His speech persuaded them.” (Perhaps he could also have added “and everyone breathed a sigh of relief”.)
Reports spread later that Gamaliel eventually became a follower of Jesus. Unfortunately, there is no hard evidence for this. But undoubtedly his intervention at this key point saved the church from what could have proved a major crisis. Thank God for unbelievers even today who speak up for God’s people!
Gamaliel stands for us as a model of wisdom and calm. He is a pourer of oil on troubled waters – not of petrol on flames. He reminds me of that lovely little Old Testament saying: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). Indeed, he reminds me of Jesus himself, standing mute before his accusers before he was crucified. He reminds me of Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9).
Angry confrontation is a sad feature of our modern world – and not just among world leaders who should know better. Footballers square up to one another on the pitch. Politicians sling vitriol at one another. On-line trolls post vile messages about people they have taken a dislike to for no particular reason.
And, of course, it can happen in church life. I heard of a church where an ambulance had to be called to a meeting because one man had been “decked” by another (yes, really). It can happen in family life, where a build-up of tensions at last explodes in hurtful words and bitter recriminations. It can happen in the work-place. It can happen… oh, it can happen anywhere.
The question is: have we trained ourselves to be Gamaliels in such situations?
Even if Gamaliel never did become a Christian, he certainly spoke more than he knew at the time. He said, in effect, that in the end truth simply cannot be suppressed: if the message of the apostles is true, he said, “you will not be able to stop” it. Indeed, “you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
You were absolutely right there, Gamaliel, absolutely right!
Let that be an encouragement to us as we survey a world of troubling political instability and a seemingly struggling and weak church. One day every knee will bow at the name of Jesus!
He is the truth. How then can he not prevail?
Lord God, help me to be a peace-maker, never a trouble-maker. Help me to show love instead of hate. Help me too to have faith in the power of the truth – that in the end it will prevail. Amen.
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