They were publicly preaching and teaching the good news of God's kingdom. So they had disobeyed a direct order of the Sanhedrin to cease preaching. See Acts 5:28. They had 'filled Jerusalem' with their teaching and preaching. So Gamaliel warned the Sanhedrin to be careful as to what they intended to do about these preachers. The officers of the Sanhedrin then flogged the disciples, ordered them again to stop preaching and then let them go. Verse 40. And according to verse 42, the disciples continued without let up from house to house declaring the good news
(Acts 5:33-40) 33 When they heard this, they were infuriated and wanted to do away with them. 34 But a Pharisee named Ga·maʹli·el rose in the Sanʹhe·drin; he was a Law teacher esteemed by all the people, and he gave the command to put the men outside for a little while. 35 Then he said to them: “Men of Israel, be careful as to what you intend to do about these men. 36 For instance, before these days Theuʹdas rose up, saying he himself was somebody, and a number of men, about 400, joined his party. But he was done away with, and all those who were following him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Gal·i·leʹan rose up in the days of the registration, and he drew followers after himself. That man also perished, and all those who were following him were scattered. 38 So under the present circumstances, I say to you, do not meddle with these men, but let them alone. For if this scheme or this work is from men, it will be overthrown; 39 but if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. Otherwise, you may even be found fighters against God himself.” 40 At this they took his advice, and they summoned the apostles, flogged them, and ordered them to stop speaking on the basis of Jesus’ name, and let them go.
Who was this Gamaliel?
A member of the Sanhedrin, a Pharisee, and a Law teacher, at whose feet the apostle Paul had been instructed according to the strictness of the ancestral Law. (Ac 5:34; 22:3) Gamaliel is generally regarded as identical with Gamaliel the Elder. Gamaliel the Elder was greatly esteemed, being the first one to have the title of “Rabban” bestowed upon him. This honorary title was even higher than that of “Rabbi.” Concerning him the Mishnah (Sotah 9:15) says: “When Rabban Gamaliel the Elder died, the glory of the Law ceased and purity and abstinence died.” (Translated by H. Danby) Gamaliel evidently was broad-minded and not fanatical in his views, as is reflected by the counsel he gave on the occasion that Peter and the other apostles were brought before the Sanhedrin. By citing examples from the past, Gamaliel illustrated the wisdom of not interfering with the work of the apostles and then added: “If this scheme or this work is from men, it will be overthrown; but if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them . . . you may perhaps be found fighters actually against God.”—Ac 5:34-39.
The apostles Peter and John were arrested for preaching in Jesus' name
They were ordered by those sitting in judgment (Jewish religious officials) to stop preaching in Jesus' name
and they were then released
Chapter 5
The apostles were arrested for healing
They escaped prison and upon escape went to the Jewish Temple to preach
When brought (this is the second time) before the Jewish religious officials, they were charged with disobeying the previous instruction forbidding them to preach in Jesus' name
Gamaliel (one of the Jewish religious officials) advised the religious officials that they should let God manage this problem. His advice amounts to this:
- if the apostles are doing something that God dislikes, then God will punish them for it
- but if the apostles are doing something that God wants done, then anyone who attempts to stop them will suffer in the attempt (because they will be opposing the will of God and therefore God himself)
Answers & Comments
They were publicly preaching and teaching the good news of God's kingdom. So they had disobeyed a direct order of the Sanhedrin to cease preaching. See Acts 5:28. They had 'filled Jerusalem' with their teaching and preaching. So Gamaliel warned the Sanhedrin to be careful as to what they intended to do about these preachers. The officers of the Sanhedrin then flogged the disciples, ordered them again to stop preaching and then let them go. Verse 40. And according to verse 42, the disciples continued without let up from house to house declaring the good news
Hannah J Paul.
The Jewish leaders wanted to kill the apostles.
(Acts 5:33-40) 33 When they heard this, they were infuriated and wanted to do away with them. 34 But a Pharisee named Ga·maʹli·el rose in the Sanʹhe·drin; he was a Law teacher esteemed by all the people, and he gave the command to put the men outside for a little while. 35 Then he said to them: “Men of Israel, be careful as to what you intend to do about these men. 36 For instance, before these days Theuʹdas rose up, saying he himself was somebody, and a number of men, about 400, joined his party. But he was done away with, and all those who were following him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Gal·i·leʹan rose up in the days of the registration, and he drew followers after himself. That man also perished, and all those who were following him were scattered. 38 So under the present circumstances, I say to you, do not meddle with these men, but let them alone. For if this scheme or this work is from men, it will be overthrown; 39 but if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. Otherwise, you may even be found fighters against God himself.” 40 At this they took his advice, and they summoned the apostles, flogged them, and ordered them to stop speaking on the basis of Jesus’ name, and let them go.
Who was this Gamaliel?
A member of the Sanhedrin, a Pharisee, and a Law teacher, at whose feet the apostle Paul had been instructed according to the strictness of the ancestral Law. (Ac 5:34; 22:3) Gamaliel is generally regarded as identical with Gamaliel the Elder. Gamaliel the Elder was greatly esteemed, being the first one to have the title of “Rabban” bestowed upon him. This honorary title was even higher than that of “Rabbi.” Concerning him the Mishnah (Sotah 9:15) says: “When Rabban Gamaliel the Elder died, the glory of the Law ceased and purity and abstinence died.” (Translated by H. Danby) Gamaliel evidently was broad-minded and not fanatical in his views, as is reflected by the counsel he gave on the occasion that Peter and the other apostles were brought before the Sanhedrin. By citing examples from the past, Gamaliel illustrated the wisdom of not interfering with the work of the apostles and then added: “If this scheme or this work is from men, it will be overthrown; but if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them . . . you may perhaps be found fighters actually against God.”—Ac 5:34-39.
Read the whole of chapters 4 and 5. It is clear.
Chapter 4
The apostles Peter and John were arrested for preaching in Jesus' name
They were ordered by those sitting in judgment (Jewish religious officials) to stop preaching in Jesus' name
and they were then released
Chapter 5
The apostles were arrested for healing
They escaped prison and upon escape went to the Jewish Temple to preach
When brought (this is the second time) before the Jewish religious officials, they were charged with disobeying the previous instruction forbidding them to preach in Jesus' name
Gamaliel (one of the Jewish religious officials) advised the religious officials that they should let God manage this problem. His advice amounts to this:
- if the apostles are doing something that God dislikes, then God will punish them for it
- but if the apostles are doing something that God wants done, then anyone who attempts to stop them will suffer in the attempt (because they will be opposing the will of God and therefore God himself)
hard to tell - but since no god exists, it really doesn't matter.