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Acts 5:33–40
“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!” (vv. 38–39a).
Most of the men who sat on the council of Jewish leaders known as the Sanhedrin came from the party of the Sadducees. During the first century, the Jewish priesthood was aligned with the Sadducees, so the Sadducees had charge over the temple and its sacrifices. Despite their prominence in religious settings, the Sadducees were not the most popular theological group among the Jews. The common people regarded the Pharisees more highly. These Pharisees attempted to follow every jot and tittle of the Mosaic law, interpreting it according to their oral traditions. We often view the Pharisees negatively because Jesus frequently condemns them in the Gospels for their hypocrisy (Matt. 23). Though they often elevated their traditions over Scripture, the Pharisees were perhaps the most orthodox party in that day. They sought to establish doctrine from all the Old Testament, and they confessed faith not only in the God of Israel but also in the existence of angels and the resurrection of the dead.
In today’s passage, we see how one of the Pharisees defended the Apostles from a sentence of death after the Sadducees responded with rage to Peter’s accusing them of sin in orchestrating the execution of Jesus (see Acts 5:27–32). The Pharisee was Gamaliel, who is described in extrabiblical Jewish literature as one of the wisest and most pious of the era’s rabbis. Gamaliel also was one of the teachers of the Apostle Paul (22:3). Using examples of other Jewish leaders whose movements had begun strong but evaporated, Gamaliel recommended that the Sanhedrin leave the Apostles alone because the movement would come to an end naturally if it were not from God. Time would reveal the truth, and if the movement were from God and they opposed it, they would be in the unenviable position of opposing the Lord (5:33–39a). The council heeded Gamaliel’s words, likely because they knew he was popular with the people, and released the Apostles after flogging them (vv. 39b–40).
We have no evidence that Gamaliel ever came to believe that God was behind the Apostles and the church. Nevertheless, his words did ultimately recognize a key truth. John Calvin comments, “Although the wicked attempt whatsoever they can, and seek all means to destroy the Church, although they furiously strive against Christ and his Church so much as they are able, yet they shall not prevail.”
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
It is always vain to oppose the will of God. Yet sin so blinds people that they will try to war against the Lord despite the futility of doing so. The church may thus experience casualties in the battle. Nevertheless, we can be encouraged that what seem to be setbacks are not final defeats and that the church will finally prevail over all opposition. This means that we can press on in faith, boldly declaring the gospel, for we know that the gospel will win in the end.
For further study
- Exodus 14
- 2 Kings 6:8–23
- Matthew 16:18
- 1 John 4:1–6
The bible in a year
- Numbers 23–25
- Mark 8:1–21