Gamaliel’s Advice
August 26, 2001
Dear Friends,
In Acts 5, we have the introduction of an individual by the name of Gamaliel. Gamaliel was one of the most famous rabbis of the first century. He was the grandson of the famous rabbi, Hillel, and became the teacher of his grandfather’s school. This is the same Gamaliel of whom Paul speaks when he says “”I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel.” (Acts 22:3)
In the account of Acts 5, we have a meeting of the Sanhedrin. They are deciding the very important question of what to do about the apostles. During the course of their meeting, Gamaliel, who was “respected by all the people”, stands before them to give his counsel. After citing several proofs of his impending recommendation, he states “I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action should be of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.”
With wise advice like this, how can you go wrong? Or can you?
In 1 Corinthians 1, we are told “the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” Often times what seems like sound reasoning and sage advice is really the babbling of fools. We only need turn to the day’s headlines to see how the foolishness of men is passed off as wisdom while the wisdom of God is mocked as foolishness. The wisdom of this world is as old as man and as subtle as the serpent’s lie. It beguiles because it is logical after a fashion and is generally accepted by the masses.
What was so wrong with Gamaliel’s advice? If the teaching of the apostles was the false prophecy and blasphemy that the Sanhedrin thought, they had a moral obligation to do everything in their power to stop it. Under the Law, they were commanded to kill false prophets and blasphemers, not sit idly by and see what happens. “If there arise among you a prophet…saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them…and that prophet… shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God…to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.” (Deut. 13) If the teaching of the apostles was from God, as leaders of the people they should have done everything in their power to promote the teaching.
The worst case would be that they did not know whether or not the new teaching was from God or man and diligently sought to figure it out. Instead, on the advice of a well-respected, politcally-connected scholar, the Sanhedrin defaulted on their job. They chose to do nothing.
Hindsight being what it is, we can view Gamaliel’s advice on the results. First, Christianity did prosper but they still did not respond to its call. In fact, they had to abandon Gamaliel’s advice and attacked the disciples with a fury as evidenced in Acts 7 with the stoning of Stephen. Secondly, these men condemned themselves by rejecting the only name “under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Finally, they never learned that the Law, which they had not followed with the advice of Gamaliel, was fulfilled in Christ. The burden which they could never carry was lifted from their shoulders but yet they never knew.
So much for the wisdom of men…
Have a great week!
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