Gamaliel

James Cathcart May 05, 2023 1 0

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Acts 5: 27-39 (NRSVA)

27 When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, 28 saying, ‘We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.’ 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than any human authority. 30 The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Saviour, so that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.’

33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, respected by all the people, stood up and ordered the men to be put outside for a short time. 35 Then he said to them, ‘Fellow-Israelites, consider carefully what you propose to do to these men. 36 For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him; but he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and disappeared. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up at the time of the census and got people to follow him; he also perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case, I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone; because if this plan or this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail; 39a but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them—in that case you may even be found fighting against God!’

If you had asked me before working on this week to tell you who Gamaliel was I would have struggled. Struggled in the sense of having no idea whatsoever. Not a scooby. I might have just about hazarded a guess that he was an elf from the Lord of the Rings…

But he’s wasn’t. He was a fascinating person who lived a couple thousand years ago, a Pharisee, who counsels the council to show restraint to Peter's gang. His reasoning is this… these kind of movements tend to peter out on their own, why fan the flame? If this movement is of human origin it will soon burn out, and if it’s of God time will soon tell and we’ll be glad we weren’t on the wrong side. It’s the abstract argument of an intellectual, it’s delivered in an aside to a group of confidants — Gamaliel does not show the bravery of Peter. But he does show some boldness. He knows how irked and spooked the council is, he can tell how febrile the situation is and he speaks a word of restraint.

Gamaliel is clearly not convinced by Peter’s crew, but he’s also not writing them off. His motives are mixed, he is a man invested in the status quo, someone with something to lose. He doesn’t want to get on the wrong side of the crowd or of God. It’s a canny move, a defensive one, not the bold step of Peter’s preaching in the temple, but a considered and nuanced one. He may be acting in self-defence, trying to hedge his bets, but his move to speak up to the others and put forward a suggestion that goes against the mood music takes courage.

Today let’s leave Peter where he is, speaking valiantly in the temple, and go to the little corner where Gamaliel stands making hasty calculations. His intentions are far less clear, his position complicated — but like many people today he finds himself in a difficult situation, under a difficult system trying to find the best way forward and — for complex reasons —  choosing a more compassionate route.

PRAYER:

Dear God,

What pocket opened in Gamaliel’s heart that day?

And what hearts in what Gamaliels need to open today?

Amen.