He was a man of reason among men beyond reason. His was the cooler head that prevailed. His was a voice of sound judgment above the voices of those who were filled with jealousy. And I wonder . . . just purely speculating . . . if his wasn’t the voice of someone who was being graced with eyes to see and hears to hear . . . if at some point he didn’t take his own advice . . . and perhaps believe, as well. I wonder if maybe he would become “brother Gamaliel.”

I’m reading another one of those “defies all logic” situations. The latter part of Acts 5 has the high priest and his cohort going nuts. Reports of Peter and the apostles doing “many signs and wonders” (5:12) are flowing into Sanhedrin headquarters. And, if seeing one guy “walking and leaping and praising God” (3:8) had them choked, then the repeated stories of people sick and afflicted with unclean spirits being brought to the apostles and being healed had them climbing the walls. The Spirit moves the author of Acts to record that they were “filled with jealousy” (5:17).

So what do you do with miracle workers to make them stop? Evidently you arrest them and throw them in prison. But what happens to miracle workers thrown into prison? . . . uh, miracles! An angel of the Lord opens the doors of the prison during the night and escorts these messengers of light out and tells them to go “stand in the temple and speak to the people all the word of this Life” (5:19-20). And that’s exactly where they are next morning . . . in the temple preaching. But the high priest sends for them in prison. Although every thing is still locked up and the guards are still in place, they are not there . . . and then they are told that they are in temple teaching and preaching. And so the high priest has them arrested again (5:21-26).

“Stop teaching in Jesus’ name,” they command the apostles. “We must obey God rather than men,” reply Peter and the apostles, “God has exalted Him at His right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins” (5:27-32). And rather than believe the signs and wonders of the sick healed and the afflicted delivered . . . rather than entertain the implications of prisoners set free despite locked doors and on duty guards . . . rather than receive the good news of Jesus as Savior and sins forgiven . . . what do they do? . . . “they were enraged and wanted to kill them” (5:33).

Enter Gamaliel.

“So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” – Gamaliel (Acts 5:38-39 ESV)

Don’t know a lot about this guy . . . only mentioned twice in Scripture. Here we’re told that he was “a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people” (5:34). Later, in Acts 22, Paul identifies him as his teacher, the rabbi who instructed and mentored him, the influence in his formative years that shaped Paul into “a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless” (Php. 3:5-6). But also the guy, I’m guessing, that instilled in Paul a sincere zeal for God . . . even if that sincerity was wrong concerning Messiah’s coming.

And what makes me wonder about Gamaliel is his “observe and learn” counsel to the Sanhedrin. If this is of man, he says, it will fail . . . but, if it is of God, you won’t be able to overthrow it . . . in fact, you’ll be opposing God Himself. So, as Gamaliel continued to observe “the Way” . . . as reports of the churches growth continued . . . as his prize pupil, Saul of Tarsus, was himself converted . . . what did Gamaliel think? . . . what did he conclude? . . . could the hardened heart of one who sincerely sought God have been softened? . . . could the eyes blinded by self-righteousness have been given light? . . . could the one who gave some profound counsel, been enlightened by the Spirit to conclude, “This is of God . . . nothing will prevail against it . . . I will no longer stand in opposition, but believe?”

I don’t know. I suppose I could check out historical accounts of the day and see what clue they might provide.

What I do know is that, for those who ask, it will be given . . . for those who seek, they will find . . . for those who knock, the door will be open (Matt. 7:7) . . . that for those who sincerely want to know if “it is of God”, God will reveal truth to them.

By His grace . . . for His glory . . .