Acts 5:12-16 The apostles were performing many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers were meeting regularly at the Temple in the area known as Solomon’s Colonnade. But no one else dared to join them, even though all the people had high regard for them. Yet more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord—crowds of both men and women. As a result of the apostles’ work, sick people were brought out into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter’s shadow might fall across some of them as he went by. Crowds came from the villages around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those possessed by evil spirits, and they were all healed.
A new sect has appeared, one inspired by a Galilean carpenter, of all people. And unlike so many of the previous rebellious groups, these people are preaching about the kingdom of God and healing people and delivering them from demons. BUT these Jesus followers are proclaiming that the long-awaited Messiah has come in the presence of Jesus and that after a shameful death by crucifixion, he has risen from the dead and ascended into heaven.
“HERESY!” think Jewish high council members…all except Gamaliel.
Acts 5:29-39 But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed him by hanging him on a cross. Then God put him in the place of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this so the people of Israel would repent of their sins and be forgiven. We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him.”
When they heard this, the high council was furious and decided to kill them. But one member, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, who was an expert in religious law and respected by all the people, stood up and ordered that the men be sent outside the council chamber for a while. Then he said to his colleagues, “Men of Israel, take care what you are planning to do to these men! Some time ago there was that fellow Theudas, who pretended to be someone great. About 400 others joined him, but he was killed, and all his followers went their various ways. The whole movement came to nothing. After him, at the time of the census, there was Judas of Galilee. He got people to follow him, but he was killed, too, and all his followers were scattered.
“So my advice is, leave these men alone. Let them go. If they are planning and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God!”
Later, Paul is defending himself against accusations brought by Jewish religious leaders. Acts 22:3 tells us, “Then Paul said, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, and I was brought up and educated here in Jerusalem under Gamaliel. As his student, I was carefully trained in our Jewish laws and customs. I became very zealous to honor God in everything I did, just like all of you today.
Rabbi Gamaliel was one of the most respected teachers of the Law, a voice of reason among a group of religious hotheads. Who was Gamaliel? Encyclopedia Britannica gives the following information:
According to tradition—but not historical fact—Gamaliel succeeded his father, Simon, and his grandfather, the renowned sage Hillel (to whose school of thought he belonged), as nasi (president) of the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish court. It is certain, though, that Gamaliel held a leading position in the Sanhedrin and that he enjoyed the highest repute as a teacher of the Law. He was the first to be given the title rabban (“our master” or “our teacher”). Like his grandfather, Gamaliel was also given the title ha-Zaqen (the Elder). According to tradition, Gamaliel’s grandson was Gamaliel II, also a noted nasi of the Sanhedrin, and his grandson was Judah ha-Nasi (Judah the Prince), who was instrumental in compiling the Mishna.
Gamaliel established a number of lenient ordinances—in particular, laws affecting women and non-Jews. Of his teachings, only one saying is preserved, in the first book of the Pirkei Avot (“Chapters of the Fathers,” often called “Ethics of the Fathers”) within the Mishna: “Make for yourself a mentor, remove yourself from doubt, and do not frequently tithe by estimation.” Gamaliel’s renown is summed up in these words recorded in the Talmud: “When Rabban Gamaliel the Elder died, regard for the Torah [Jewish Law] ceased, and purity and piety died.”
According to Christian tradition, Gamaliel embraced Christianity and was baptized by St. Peter and St. John. His body was supposedly discovered in the 5th century and transported to a cathedral in Pisa, Italy. In Eastern Orthodoxy he is considered a saint with a feast day of August 2, the supposed day that his relics were found, and among Roman Catholics his feast day is August 3.
The Jewish Encyclopedia says this about Gamaliel:
Key aspects of the Jewish view of Gamaliel include:
- Supreme Authority: He was a respected authority in the Sanhedrin, known for his deep knowledge of the law.
- “Rabban” Status: He was held in such high esteem that he was the first to be called Rabban, a title higher than Rabbi.
- Legal Leniency: Gamaliel introduced several legal reforms aimed at Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) and easing restrictions for women and non-Jews.
- Scholarly Legacy: Only one of his sayings is directly preserved in Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers): “Make for yourself a mentor, remove yourself from doubt, and do not frequently tithe by estimation”.
- Talmudic Mention: He is characterized as a towering figure whose death coincided with a significant decline in the level of scholarship and piety in Israel.
Americans have a favorite saying, “If you can read this, thank a teacher!” Christians should amend that saying to “If the Epistles move you, thank Gamaliel!” What makes a good teacher? An internet search reveals the following:
A good teacher combines subject expertise with core traits like patience, empathy, and adaptability to foster an engaging, inclusive learning environment. They are effective communicators, passionate about their craft, and build strong relationships with students to foster trust and academic success. Ultimately, a good teacher goes beyond delivering information; they build genuine connections that encourage academic risk-taking and personal growth.
Tikkun Olam (Hebrew for “repairing the world”) is a Jewish concept referring to actions taken to fix, improve, and heal the world, bringing it closer to a state of harmony with divine intent. It encompasses social justice, environmentalism, charity, and ethical behavior, often aiming to alleviate suffering and foster a more equitable society.
By all accounts, Gamaliel passionately taught his students so that each one of them would go out to heal the world by their teaching, their scholarship, and their actions. Later, Saint Paul would write to the Ephesians about the variety of God’s callings. Ephesians 4:11-13 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
When Paul was writing these words, he must have been fondly remembering Gamaliel with his passion, his insight, his sly sense of humor, and his intense love for God. For the rest of Paul’s life, one of his chief sources of inspiration would have been Gamaliel, the prince of scholars and a seeker for truth. And when August 2nd and 3rd come, remember Saint Gamaliel, one of the inspirations for the Epistles.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, thank You for creating teachers and gifting them with passion, courage, and dedication. Please help us to bless those who teach us and give us teachable minds. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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