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Acts 5:34
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32 And awe are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit bwhom God has given to those who obey Him.”  

Gamaliel’s Advice

33 When they heard this, they were afurious and plotted to kill them.  
34 Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named aGamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while.  
35 And he said to them: “Men of Israel,1 take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men.  
36 For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred,1 joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing.  
37 After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed.
38 And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing;
39 abut if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found bto fight against God.”  
40 And they agreed with him, and when they had acalled for the apostles band beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.  
41 So they departed from the presence of the council, arejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for1 His name.  
Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
<< Acts 5:33   Acts 5:35 >>


Acts 5:34

Gamaliel (Gamalihl). The grandson of Hillel, teacher of Paul (Acts 22:3), later president of the Sanhedrin, and the first of the seven rabbis termed "Rabban." It is held by some that he was one of the doctors who heard the Boy Jesus in the temple (Luke 2:47) and that he was a secret disciple like Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, but there is no evidence of either position. Besides, he appears here as a loyal Pharisee and "a doctor of the law" (nomodidaskalov). This word appears already in Luke 5:17 of the Pharisaic doctors bent on criticizing Jesus, which see. Paul uses it of Judaizing Christians (I Timothy 1:7). Like other great rabbis he had a great saying: "Procure thyself a teacher, avoid being in doubt; and do not accustom thyself to give tithes by guess." He was a man of judicial temper and not prone to go off at a tangent, though his brilliant young pupil Saul went to the limit about Stephen without any restraint on the part of Gamaliel so far as the record goes. Gamaliel champions the cause of the apostles as a Pharisee to score a point against the Sadducees. He acts as a theological opportunist, not as a disciple of Christ. He felt that a temporizing policy was best. There are difficulties in this speech of Gamaliel and it is not clear how Luke obtained the data for the address. It is, of course, possible that Saul was present and made notes of it for Luke afterwards.

Had in honour of all the people (timiov panti tw law). Ethical dative. Timiov from timh, old word meaning precious, dear.

The men (touv anqrwpouv). Correct text as in verse Acts 5:35, not "the apostles" as Textus Receptus.




Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Acts 5:34:

Luke 5:17
Acts 8:1
Acts 22:3
Acts 23:6
1 Timothy 1:7
Hebrews 13:4

 

<< Acts 5:33   Acts 5:35 >>

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