“When they heard this, they became infuriated and wanted to put them to death. But a Pharisee in the Sanhedrin named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, respected by all the people, stood up, ordered the men to be put outside for a short time, and said to them, ‘Fellow Israelites, be careful what you are about to do to these men. Some time ago, Theudas appeared, claiming to be someone important, and about four hundred men joined him, but he was killed, and all those who were loyal to him were disbanded and came to nothing. After him came Judas the Galilean at the time of the census. He also drew people after him, but he too perished and all who were loyal to him were scattered. So now I tell you, have nothing to do with these men, and let them go. For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God.’ They were persuaded by him.” (Acts 5:33-39)
Gamaliel is mentioned twice in Acts, here in Acts 5 and in Acts 22 where Paul notes that he was educated in the law at the feet of Gamaliel. He is also mentioned in the Talmud, the compilation of oral rabbinic teachings that is an essential source of Jewish law and culture. The Talmud describes Gamaliel as a highly respected figure in the Sanhedrin, sought after by royalty for counsel, and says, “Since Rabban Gamaliel the Elder died, there has been no more reverence for the law, and purity and piety died out at the same time.” The Talmud confirms Luke’s description of Gamaliel in Acts.
The fundamental point Gamaliel is presenting to the Sanhedrin is this: How could a man who was tortured and killed by the religious and civil authorities possibly inspire a new religion? How is it that His followers did not despair and fade into obscurity? The life and death of Jesus should have come to nothing – unless He indeed rose from the dead, unless He is the Son of God.
Paul makes this same point in his first letter to the Corinthians: “We proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:23-24).
There is no other religious founder like Jesus. Muhammad was a conquering military hero. The Buddha was a respected teacher. So too was Confucius, who was also a sought-after government adviser.
The apostles did not do what anyone would have expected after the crucifixion of Jesus. They did not fade into obscurity. They did not go back to Galilee and take up their fishing nets. Was anyone more shocked than the members of the Sanhedrin when Peter and the apostles stood up and boldly proclaimed that Jesus was risen on the first Pentecost? Surely they thought they had crushed Jesus, that they would not be hearing His name anymore. Yet here it was a few weeks later, and miracles were being performed, the gospel was being proclaimed, and more people were following Jesus every day.
Most members of the Sanhedrin could not or would not comprehend this. They just wanted it to stop. Gamaliel seems to be the only one among them who attempted to understand the paradox of a crucified man, a man who had been killed in the most shameful way possible, gaining new followers. If he had not yet reach the conclusion that Jesus truly rose from the dead, he at least intuited that belief in Jesus must be the work of God, or it will come to nothing.
Two thousand years and billions of believers later, we can see that the words of Gamaliel have been vindicated.
Notes:
Image: Rabban Gamliel (Gamaliel) as depicted in the Sarajevo Haggadah, a fourteenth century illuminated manuscript (downloaded from Wikipedia Commons).
Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet every day for the salvation of souls.
