Devotion Acts 5:33-39 No Stopping The Truth

Acts 5:33-39 – When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35 Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

“When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death.” Peter and the rest of the Apostles had just said of the Sanhedrin that they were the ones who killed Jesus.  They had put the blame on them that Jesus was killed by crucifixion at the hands of the Romans at the insistence of the Jewish leaders.  Jesus was not some unknown that had been killed.  People knew Him, they had heard and seen Him and they knew of the mock trial, the cruel beatings and the how He was murdered.  Although the religious leaders vehemently denied their culpability, the people knew the true story.  They knew that what the Apostles were teaching was true.  The resurrection of Jesus was also widely known and the many miracles He had performed had been the talk of the city.  The Sanhedrin were furious as they denied the charges laid against them.  How dare the apostles accuse them of being killers!  They were so mad that they wanted to murder the Apostles.  Hmmm.

“But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.”  These Jewish leaders were worked into a lather.  Have you ever seen a liar called out as a liar?  Oh the indignation and anger that gets worked up and the threats that can follow!  The guilty don’t like to be called guilty, no matter their station in life.  Gamaliel was a great scholar and teacher.  In fact, he was known to have been the Apostle Paul’s teacher.  This august man stood up to restore calm.  He had the room cleared and the accused removed so that the leaders could talk amongst themselves.

“Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men.”  Can you hear Gamaliel “Okay guys, we’re alone now.  It’s just us.  Let’s calm down and consider what is the best road to choose.”  The wisdom of Gamaliel is already being revealed.

“36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.”  Gamaliel states that this rising up is nothing new to the Jews.  They have before seen people rise up and claim to be a messiah and have a group of people follow them.  Then, when the leaders were disposed of (killed) the group would become discouraged and go back to their previous lives. “Calm down folks, these fake messiahs, we’ve seen them before.”

“Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”  Gamaliel continued to reason with them that since they had before seen men claim to be messiahs, they should be wise and consider the lesson that should be noted.  He said, if this large, and growing group is not from God, well their leader Jesus is dead, so they will become discouraged and go back to their former lives.  After all, why will they continue to risk their lives, why would people risk their lives, for a man who obviously was not who he claimed to be, seeing as the fake was now dead and gone?  Gamaliel soothed them “this too shall pass.”

Gamaliel continued on, the wisdom of what He was saying was growing.  He was telling them that if what the Apostles were saying is true, if Jesus was the Messiah, if this was indeed the will of God, who can stop it?  He rightfully expressed the futility of resisting God. If Jesus was the Messiah, then they who claim to be priests of God will be fighting against the omnipotent and undefeatable God that they teach about.  Gamaliel told them to leave this group alone and see what happens.  The validity of their claims would either be dashed by the hopelessness of their beliefs, or their claims would be borne out and assured by the mighty hand of God.  We know that reasoning to be true.  We also know that the hard of heart refuse to see (Ephesians 4:18).

What Gamaliel said came to be true.  What was of God grew.  It has irresistibly swept the world.  No power of hell and no power of man can stop it.  The Gospel is God’s good news to us that there is a way from darkness to the Light.  The way is Jesus.  Family, let us rejoice that Jesus is the Messiah, to us and to the world, if they would receive Him.  Let us pray for all men to come to Him and glorify Him, whoever they are, Jew or Gentile.  Praise be to our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ!  Praise to the Truth! (John 14:6).  Praise God!