Gamaliel provided very wise words to the Sanhedrin, that seem universal to me.
38 “So in this case I say to you, stay away from these men and leave them alone, because if this plan or this undertaking originates with people, it will come to nothing,39 but if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them, or you may even be found fighting against God.”
Interesting stuff in Acts 5. What would you like to comment on?
Gamaliel’s words do seem wise. Nothing will stop God’s plans! Interesting that Saul was his student and didn’t seem to heed these words.
I think it’s interesting how verse 36 is careful to note the guards arrested them, but without violence. Because there was probably violence in most arrests and it was notable that this time there wasn’t.
Also I find myself wondering how the apostles’ families reacted, as this event was apparently very shameful (v 41).
Sarah, your comment pushed me back into the text. On a second reading, the sequence of events doesn’t even make sense. As Jessamyn pointed out, Saul didn’t pay attention to Gamaliel, but it looks like the council didn’t either. The text says:
– Gamaliel convinced the council to leave the apostles alone.
– The council summoned the apostles and had them beaten.
That doesn’t sound like leaving them alone.