Acts 5:27-42
Lesson 229
Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."
In this lesson:
Lesson 228 continues.
The apostles are arrested, again.
This time they are beaten.
The Pharisee Gamaliel.
Who was -
Gamaliel -
Gamaliel, meaning reward of God, was a distinguished rabbi and a revered Pharisee noted for his wisdom, moderation, and virtue. He was a teacher of religious law and the president of the Sanhedrin (Jewish high council) during the reigns of the Roman emperors Tiberius, Caligula, and Claudius. Gamaliel was one of only seven Rabbis to hold the lofty title of Rabban (our Rabbi), and we read in this passage that he warned the Sanhedrin to treat the apostles carefully or risk fighting "against God" (Acts 5:34-39). As a young man, the apostle Paul was one of his students before converting to Christianity (Acts 22:3). In fact, Paul was a member of the Sanhedrin, and was possibly there when they questioned the apostles and had them beaten (Acts 5:40). Christian tradition says Gamaliel became a believer with his son and Nicodemus and was baptized by Peter and Paul. Gamaliel died around AD 52.
Theudas -
A Jewish rebel who led an unsuccessful revolt against the Roman occupiers. The historian Titus Flavius Josephus (AD 37-AD 100) reported that Theudas was captured by the Romans and beheaded.
Judas of Galilee -
Another Jewish rebel (and member of the Zealots) killed by the Romans for leading a revolt against Rome. He is one of six people named Judas in the New Testament.
Gamaliel -
Gamaliel, meaning reward of God, was a distinguished rabbi and a revered Pharisee noted for his wisdom, moderation, and virtue. He was a teacher of religious law and the president of the Sanhedrin (Jewish high council) during the reigns of the Roman emperors Tiberius, Caligula, and Claudius. Gamaliel was one of only seven Rabbis to hold the lofty title of Rabban (our Rabbi), and we read in this passage that he warned the Sanhedrin to treat the apostles carefully or risk fighting "against God" (Acts 5:34-39). As a young man, the apostle Paul was one of his students before converting to Christianity (Acts 22:3). In fact, Paul was a member of the Sanhedrin, and was possibly there when they questioned the apostles and had them beaten (Acts 5:40). Christian tradition says Gamaliel became a believer with his son and Nicodemus and was baptized by Peter and Paul. Gamaliel died around AD 52.
Theudas -
A Jewish rebel who led an unsuccessful revolt against the Roman occupiers. The historian Titus Flavius Josephus (AD 37-AD 100) reported that Theudas was captured by the Romans and beheaded.
Judas of Galilee -
Another Jewish rebel (and member of the Zealots) killed by the Romans for leading a revolt against Rome. He is one of six people named Judas in the New Testament.
Study Tip:
Find the truth in each passage.
Then, apply that truth to your life.
Find the truth in each passage.
Then, apply that truth to your life.