But
they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and determined to kill them. But one stood up in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, honored by all the people, and commanded to put the apostles out for a little while. He said to them, “You men of Israel, be careful concerning these men, what you are about to do. For before these days Theudas rose up, making himself out to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed, and came to nothing. After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the enrollment, and drew away some people after him. He also perished, and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad.
Acts 5:33-37
Acts 5 [29.] But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree. God exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins. We are His witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
Acts 5 [33.] But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and determined to kill them. But one stood up in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, honored by all the people, and commanded to put the apostles out for a little while. He said to them, “You men of Israel, be careful concerning these men, what you are about to do. For before these days Theudas rose up, making himself out to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed, and came to nothing. After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the enrollment, and drew away some people after him. He also perished, and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad. Now I tell you, withdraw from these men, and leave them alone. For if this counsel or this work is of men, it will be overthrown. But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow it, and you would be found even to be fighting against God!”
Acts 5 [40.] They agreed with him. Summoning the apostles, they beat them and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for Jesus’ name.
Meaning:
Peter and the apostles had told the council, “We must obey God rather than men,” and had declared that God raised Jesus and exalted him as Prince and Savior (Acts 5:29-30; Acts 5:31-32). These verses describe the council’s furious reaction and the intervention of a respected teacher who changed the course of the trial.
- “they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and determined to kill them”
At Pentecost the crowd was also “cut to the heart” and asked, “Brothers, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). That was the pain of conviction leading to repentance. Here a different and stronger word is used, picturing being sawn through, and it leads to rage. The same word appears when the council heard Stephen: “they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth” (Acts 7:54). The same message can soften one heart and harden another.
- “a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, honored by all the people”
The council included both Sadducees and Pharisees. The Pharisees, unlike the Sadducees, believed in the resurrection and in angels (Acts 23:8), and they had wide support among the people. Gamaliel was one of the most respected teachers of his day. Later Paul would say he was “brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict tradition of the law of our fathers” (Acts 22:3). Gamaliel asked for the apostles to be put out so the council could speak freely.
- “You men of Israel, be careful concerning these men, what you are about to do”
Gamaliel urged caution. Killing the apostles would be a serious step, and he reminded the council that history had a way of judging such movements.
- “Theudas rose up, making himself out to be somebody”
Gamaliel’s first example was a man named Theudas, who gathered about four hundred followers, was killed, and whose movement came to nothing. The Jewish historian Josephus mentions a Theudas who led a crowd to the Jordan some years after this speech, which raises a question. Some scholars think Gamaliel meant an earlier rebel of the same common name, since many uprisings followed the death of Herod the Great; others suggest that either Luke or Josephus confused the order of events. The point of the example is clear in either case.
- “Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the enrollment”
Judas of Galilee led a revolt against a Roman census and taxation, teaching that God alone was Israel’s king. Josephus dates it to a census under Quirinius around AD 6. Luke also mentions a census under Quirinius at the birth of Jesus, calling it “the first enrollment” (Luke 2:2). Judas perished and his followers were scattered, though his ideas lived on among later rebels.
Gamaliel then advised, “Now I tell you, withdraw from these men, and leave them alone”, leading to his famous conclusion that a work of God cannot be overthrown (Acts 5:38-39).
The Significance of Acts 5:33-37
- The same word, different hearts
The gospel calls for a response. Some are cut to the heart and repent; others are cut to the heart and resist. Hearers must ask which response is theirs.
- God can use cautious voices
Gamaliel was not a follower of Jesus, and readers differ on whether his advice showed openness or simply prudence. Yet God used his words to protect the apostles. God can work through unexpected people to restrain injustice.
Cross-References:
Acts 2:37: "Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart," A response that led to repentance.
Acts 7:54: "they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth." A response that led to violence.
Acts 5:39: "But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow it," Gamaliel’s conclusion.
Conclusion: The council was so enraged by the apostles’ testimony that it wanted to kill them. Gamaliel, an honoured Pharisee and teacher of the law, urged caution, recalling how the movements of Theudas and Judas of Galilee had collapsed when their leaders died. His speech prepared the way for his advice to leave the apostles alone and let God show whether their work was from him.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible