Acts 5 tells us that the Apostles were busy telling everyone they could about Jesus. The Sadducees became jealous of how many people were listening and believing, so they had them arrested. An angel freed them overnight and told them to keep preaching. The next day they were back at it, so the guards rounded them up and brought them in for trial before the Sanhedrin, the same Jewish tribunal that had found Jesus guilty and sentenced Him to death. They told the Apostles to stop preaching. Here is what happened next.

Acts 5:29-40 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men! The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case 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.” His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

The disciples who just a few months earlier had all abandoned Jesus were now emboldened by having seen Him risen again and also by the power of the Holy Spirit poured out on them at Pentecost. Nothing would stop them from sharing the news of Jesus as Savior for everyone.

What I want you to notice today is the fellow named Gamaliel. He was a Pharisee who was respected as a teacher of the Law. He was an instrument of God in the spread of the Gospel in many ways. In this account, he counseled leniency. If these men were not speaking the truth, nothing would come of it. But if they were speaking God’s truth, nothing would be able to stop them. He was correct. And the disciples were able to go on preaching, albeit after a flogging and instructions not to do so.

Something else notable about Gamaliel is his connection and influence on the Apostle Paul. Saul, as he was previously known, was a student of this respected teacher.

Acts 22:3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city [Jerusalem]. Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.

I find it interesting that the teacher who counseled that the followers of Jesus be left alone had a student who made it his mission to eradicate them. He was commissioned to round them up and bring them in for trial and was in the process of doing so when Jesus appeared to him and gave him a new commission, the same one we have as His followers:  go tell the world about our loving Savior.

Gamaliel’s influence should be noted. Paul was welcomed in synagogues as he traveled the world because of his knowledge of the Hebrew Scriptures, taught to him by Gamaliel. This opened the door for him to share the Good News, presenting Jesus as the fulfillment of the promises made in the Old Testament, which is exactly who He is.