The Gamaliel Question

  This was a question posed to us at Church on Sunday about a Bible event, and it certainly gets the brain cells thinking! Please take this opportunity to vote in the poll on the right-hand side of the blog page.

  I shall set the scene…

  The Apostles have been preaching and teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout Jerusalem. The Sanhedrin, or Council, have arrested them and are deciding what to do with the gang.

  A wise chap called Gamaliel stands up and says,

    “So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice.”
(Acts 5:38-39 ESV)

   Do you see what he is saying? Basically: let them get on with it, if they are wrong then eventually they will fizzle out anyway, but if they are right then we shouldn’t be fighting them!

   My question…. Was Gamaliel wise in saying what he did?

   Here are a few contextual pointers to assist in your decision making:

• Just recently, 2 guys who had been trying to start rebellions had died and their rebellions had fizzled out and their followers left them. Maybe Gamaliel’s tactics worked?
• The Council, or Sanhedrin, was responsible for guiding the everyday Jews’ spiritual welfare, they had the important job of explaining the Bible (or the Law and Prophets) and teaching people what to do.
• Earlier that same week, the Sanhedrin had arrested the Apostles, and, miraculously, they had disappeared from the middle of the prison, without any guards noticing! But, instead of hiding, they went straight to the city centre (the Temple) and carried on preaching!
• The Sanhedrin did actually agree with Gamaliel and released the Apostles, but only after cruelly beating them first.

   So, here is your chance to vote! What do you think?