But one in the council rising up, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, respected by all the people, commanded the men to be put forth a little while.
αναστας δε τις εν τω συνεδριω φαρισαιος ονοματι γαμαλιηλ νομοδιδασκαλος τιμιος παντι τω λαω εκελευσεν εξω βραχυ τι τους αποστολους ποιησαι
8 Church Fathers comment on this verse
This Gamaliel was Paul's teacher. It is worthy of wonder how, being so prudent and, moreover, a teacher of the law, he had not yet believed. It is impossible that he remained wholly unbelieving, as is clear from the words in which he offers his counsel. "He commanded," the writer says, "that the apostles be put outside for a little while." See both the prudence of his speech and how he immediately brought them into fear.
As for Gamaliel, he was Paul's disciple. It is worthy of wonder how, being a teacher of the law and a man of prudent mind, he had not yet believed. This was because Paul also had not yet believed.
This Gamaliel, as Clement indicates, was a companion of the apostles in faith. Yet on their counsel he remained among the Jews, so that amid the general disturbance he might be able to restrain their fury. Pseudo-Clement of Rome, Recognitiones 1.65.2.
Having received a new sign confirming God’s favor, for the place where they prayed was shaken, they preached the gospel with still greater boldness.
This became the cause of the apostles’ second imprisonment, this time in the public prison, as disturbers of public peace. The chief actors were again the Sadducees.
In mockery of their vain designs, an angel, though they denied the very existence of angels, opened the prison doors for the apostles. They are again in the temple and teaching.
From there they are taken and presented to the Sanhedrin. They are questioned as violators of the authorities’ command.
They are not asked how they left the prison. They are asked why they preach about Him whose name is hateful to them.
But the apostles, without hesitation, say that one must obey God rather than men. They preach the resurrection of Jesus and the witness of the Holy Spirit.
The Sadducees can endure this no longer. They wish to kill the apostles. But the voice of the learned Pharisee Gamaliel, respected by all the people, served the work of God. They were only punished and released.
This open and firm confession of the apostles, by which the judges were directly accused of the unjust murder of the Savior of the world, caused such an outburst of anger in them that they were ready to forget the lesson given by the miraculous release of the accused from prison.
Without further inquiry, they plotted to kill them. From this thoughtless act of anger the Sanhedrin was restrained by one of its own members, Gamaliel.
He was the famous teacher of the law at whose feet the Apostle Paul received his Jewish theological education (Acts 22:3).
After ordering the apostles to go out for a time, Gamaliel calls the assembly first to consider calmly what to do with these men.
He reminds the judges of two popular uprisings and agitators: a certain Theudas, a person not definitely known from history, and Judas the Galilean.
Judas caused an uprising during and because of the census of the people. The Roman emperor Augustus commanded Quirinius, the Syrian governor, to conduct it in Judea, and because of it the nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ took place in Bethlehem (Lk 2:2).
Since the work of the apostles appeared dangerous in the eyes of the Sanhedrin, because it was growing more and more (v. 28), Gamaliel recalls that the mentioned popular agitators had likewise at first succeeded and drawn hundreds of people after them.
But, he says, since their work was not the work of God, they themselves perished, and their followers were scattered and disappeared.
“And now I say to you, keep away from these men and leave them alone. For if this plan or this work is from men, it will be overthrown.
But if it is from God, you cannot overthrow it. Take care lest you be found even to be fighting against God.”
The comparison of the apostles with popular agitators seems to show that Gamaliel personally did not have a high opinion of the preachers of Christ.
Yet in the counsel with which Gamaliel then addressed the Sanhedrin, a favorable opinion of Christianity is reflected. He allows the possibility that the work of the apostles is the work of God, and warns men not to be found fighters against God.
This was Gamaliel, famed as one of the greatest experts in the law. In the Christian Church he acquired still greater significance as the former teacher of the greatest of the apostles; Acts 22:3.
"But one stood up," and so forth. Gamaliel is presented here as a member of the Sanhedrin, a Pharisee, a teacher of the law, and one who had earned respect among all the people. He is the famous Jewish rabbi known also from the Talmud, son of Rabbi Simeon and grandson of the most celebrated Rabbi Hillel. He was the teacher of the Apostle Paul; Acts 22:3. According to the most ancient tradition, he became a Christian and a preacher of the Gospel. The Orthodox Church counts him Equal-to-the-Apostles.
Gamaliel’s counsel was wise and well grounded. He proposed it very skillfully.
Being an honorable man, a knower of life and faith, even a teacher of the law, he belonged to the party of the Pharisees. This party generally enjoyed the people’s favor, and he himself was personally respected by the people.
Gamaliel rose from his place and ordered the apostles to be taken out. Then, when they had gone out, he made the judges understand that they needed to consider the apostles more thoughtfully.
They should not act as the zealous guardians of their supposed rights and of the people’s general safety wished.
“As for Gamaliel,” writes blessed Theophylact, “he was Paul’s teacher. It is worthy of wonder how, being a teacher of the law and a man prudent in mind, he had not yet believed.
This was because Paul also had not yet believed. Pay attention to the fitness of his speech, and how he immediately cast them into fear.
And so as not to arouse suspicion that he shared the apostles’ thoughts, he speaks with the Jews as with men of the same convictions. He does not express himself especially sharply, but says the following words: consider among yourselves.
According to an ancient tradition, Gamaliel later became a Christian.” The Orthodox Church calls him Equal-to-the-Apostles and blesses his memory on January 4 (17) and August 2 (15).
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 20 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS