· The Response (Acts 5:33)
o Instead of responding to the Gospel for the forgiveness of their sins, the Sanhedrin was furious.
o In their rage, they intended to kill all of the Apostles.

· Who was Gamaliel? (Acts 5:34)
o Gamaliel was a Pharisee, teacher of the Law, and well respected.
o He is the only Pharisee mentioned by name in the entire book of Acts.
o Gamaliel was Paul’s rabbi (Acts 22:3).
o The Mishnah is very complimentary of Gamaliel (Sotah 9:15).

· Gamaliel’s Advice (Acts 5:35–39)
o Gamaliel urges his fellow Jewish leaders to be cautious about what they are going to do to the Apostles.
o Who was Theudas?
- Josephus mentions a different Theudas who led a rebellion between AD 44–46.
- This cannot be the same man Gamaliel is speaking about, because verse 37 tells us, “After this man (Theudas), Judas of Galilee rose up.”
o Who was Judas of Galilee?
- He was a Zealot who led a rebellion in AD 6 during the census of Quirinius.
· Since we have an exact date for Judas of AD 6, and according to Gamaliel Judas came after Theudas, we can deduce that the Theudas Gamaliel is referring to is not the same one from AD 44.
o Gamaliel’s point is that they have seen messianic figures come and go.
o Obviously, Theudas and Judas of Galilee were not sent from God, because their missions failed.
o If Jesus and the Apostles’ mission is merely manmade, it will fail in time, and they don’t need to fight against it.
o If this mission is from God, then the Sanhedrin would be fighting against God, which means utter failure because God doesn’t lose.
- Gamaliel is using logic that is taught in Deuteronomy 18:18–22.

· God uses unlikely people to protect His people and His mission.
o Rahab
- Joshua 2:11
o Cyrus
- Ezra 1:1–4
· Jeremiah 25:11, 29:10–11

· Suffering and Joy (Acts 5:40–42)
o Instead of killing the Apostles, the Jewish leaders had them flogged, told them not to speak in the name of Jesus anymore, and then released them.
o Deut. 25:1–3 says a judge can deem a wicked man (someone who broke the law) to be beaten with lashes as a punishment.
o The Apostles were punished like criminals and endured painful whipping and shame.
- The emphasis in this passage is about the shame the Apostles were subjected to, not the pain.
o How did the Apostles respond?
- “rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.” Acts 5:41b
- Jesus told the disciples they would persecuted on His behalf in Mark 13:9.
- Jesus had also prepared them with how to respond in Luke 6:22–23.

Application:
· God allows His followers to suffer shame.
o James 1:2–3
· Are you ashamed of being a public Christian?
o Romans 1:16
· God uses the unlikely, like you and me, to protect His people and His mission.