sign in sign up
<<
Home , Gamaliel

1 2

9/28/19, SN, 6/15/00 We want to look at the man Gamaliel and study him from three vantage points. :33-42 Gamaliel I. The identity of Gamaliel. II. The intervention of Gamaliel. In the Old Testament there was a Jewish young III. The indictment against Gamaliel. woman named Esther, in Susa the palace and she had I. The identity of Gamaliel. come to be the Queen, under the Persian reign. A. The man Gamaliel. The wicked man Haman plotted to have all the Jews 1. His name Gamaliel, means “my killed in one day by an edict of the king and Esther recompenser is God” or “reward of God”. was called on by her uncle Mordecai, to make a. Names, as many time was the custom intercession for the people the Jews. were given to a child under the circumstances of their birth, such as But she was afraid lest she enter into the kings Isaac, which means laughter. presence without being called and be cut to pieces if b. Whatever the circumstance of Gamaliel’s he did not except her presence. birth, his name implies that he was to trust God alone and be a benefit to Her uncle Mordecai said to her, “Who is to know that others. you have been placed in such a place for such a time 2. He was the grandson of the famous as this”. Hillel, referred to as the authority in the Jewish Mishna, the codified scribal law. She declared that she would go before the king and if a. Hillel was the liberal sect of the she perished, she would perish, asking prayer of all. , who allowed divorcee for every cause. Oh how many people have been placed by God in the * By the way the disciples of were world seen and in particular places and times, for liberals followers of Hillel, for when them to do some great work for God! Jesus said sexual unfaithfulness was the only reason, they were shocked, The man Gamaliel could very well of been one of His disciples said to Him, “If such is these men, who God had prepared to welcome the the case of the man with his wife, it is Messiah, yet he failed to do so. better not to marry.” Matt. 19:10 3 4

b. Shemai was the conservative, who b. Their name meant the separated ones. allowed divorce only in the case of 1) The initial intent was honorable, to be adultery. set apart to God and the things of 3. He was a Doctor and teacher of the Law. God. Acts 5:34 2) The problem was that they ended up a. He was the first to bear the title separating themselves from the “Rabban”, meaning “our Master, our people. Great One”, rather than the ordinary 2. The Pharisees were the scribes and teachers “Rabbi”, meaning “my Master”. of the Law of Moses. b. He is said to of enhanced the liberalism a. The is the codified scribal law, of Pharisaism and dominance after the for example the section on the Sabbath destruction of the temple in A.D. 70. extends to not fewer than twenty-four c. He was a celebrated doctor of the law chapters. and highly respected by his peers and b. The is the commentary on the probably the Jewish community. Mishnah. 4. He is said to be the teacher of Paul, by Paul 1) In the the section himself, when he gave his defense on the on the Sabbath law runs sixty-four steps of the Antonios steps. :3 and a half columns. * These are the only two times his name 2) In the Babylonian Talmud it runs to appears in the and most one hundred and fifty-six double folio likely he was wealthy as Necodemus and pages. ! 3. The Pharisees were to live out the very law they taught. B. The man Gamaliel was a Pharisee. a. But for the most part were the optima of 1. The Pharisees were the religious ritualists of hypocrisy. the day. b. The term “Pharisee” is used synonymous a. They had arisen during the Macabean with hypocrisy in Christian circles. wars against Antiochus Epiphany who attempted to wipe out the Jewish religion C. The man Gamaliel was a member of the and there were no more than 6,000 at any . one time. 5 6

1. The Sanhedrin was the ruling body of Israel 1. At times the possession of degrees is the complete comprised of elders, scribes and high priest identity of some individuals, but it does not that oversaw the affairs of Israel. necessarily mean that a person is spiritual, called or 2. The court comprise of seventy-one members anointed by God, though there is nothing wrong with after the Old Testament order. education or degrees if he is, Solomon understood 3. The Sanhedrin consisted of the Pharisees this. Eccl. 12:8-13 who were the ritualists and the Saducees * Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher, "All is who were the materialists and of the priestly vanity. And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, order. he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered a. The Saducees did not believe in , and sought out and set in order many proverbs. The spirits or the resurrection, yet they Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what comprised the council. was written was upright--words of truth. The words of b. Paul in his defense knew this, so focused the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are on the resurrection and divided the like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd. And council. :1-10 further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is Illustration wearisome to the flesh. Let us hear the conclusion of One day General Earle G. Wheeler, Army Chief of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His Staff, witnessed the induction of a recruit on an commandments, For this is man's all. For God will inspection trip. The young man was being questioned bring every work into judgment, Including every by a sergeant: “Did you go to grammar school?” secret thing, Whether good or evil. “Yes sir,” The recruit answered, “I also went 2. The believer is to depend on God for all things, to through high school, graduated from Knox college, by used as his instrument. Eph. 2:10 and took graduate study at Michigan and Harvard, * For we are His workmanship, created in Jesus where I got my Ph. D.” for good works, which God prepared beforehand that The sergeant reached for a rubber stamp, inked we should walk in them. it and stamped the questionnaire with one word: 3. The every day decision for every believer is to “Literate.” #1335 separate his body, mind and spirit unto God for * Kind of puts things into perspective, doesn’t it! service. Rom. 12:1-2 Application * “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, 7 8 holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable 6. “Did we not strictly command you not to service. And do not be conformed to this world, but teach in this name? And look, you have be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and you may prove what is that good and acceptable and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!" Acs perfect will of God. 5:28 7. But Peter and the other apostles answered This should have been the identity of Gamaliel! and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men. Acts 5:29 II. The intervention of Gamaliel. Acts 5:33-42 8. Then Peter began to preach Jesus to them. Acts 5:30-33 A. The scene was the imprisonment and preaching a. “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus of Peter and other apostles. whom you murdered by hanging on a 1. The apostles had been imprisoned for tree. Him God has exalted to His right preaching and healing people. Acts 5:14-18 hand to be Prince and Savior, to give 2. The of the Lord opened the prison repentance to Israel and forgiveness of door, brought them out and told them to go sins.” Acts 5:30-31 and stand in the temple an to speak to the b. “And we are His witnesses to these people all the word of life. Acts 5:18-20 things, and so also is the Holy Spirit 3. The high priest called the Sanhedrin together whom God has given to those who obey and ordered the apostles to be brought but Him.”. Acts 5:32 when the prison cell was empty. Acts 5:21- c. When they heard this, they were furious 23 and plotted to kill them. Acts 5:33 4. As they were reporting it to the council, one came and told them, that the men were in the B. The spokesman on their behalf was Gamaliel. temple teaching the people. Acts 5:24-25 Acts 5:34-39 5. Then the captain went with the officers and 1. Gamaliel used his influence to be heard. vs. brought them without violence, for they 34 feared the people, lest they should be stoned. a. Then one in the council stood up, a And set them before the council, to asked Pharisee named Gamaliel. them questions. Acts 5:26-27 b. A teacher of the law held in respect by all the people. 9 10

c. He commanded them to put the apostles of men, it will come to nothing; but if it outside for a little while. is of God, you cannot overthrow it--lest 2. Gamaliel saw the apostles and Jesus as you even be found to fight against God.” another rebellious movement that would vs. 38-39 soon die off. vs. 35-39 1) He appeared to be concerned about the a. He cautioned them, “And he said to men but he was probably more them: "Men of Israel, take heed to concern with the trouble it would yourselves what you intend to do bring from Rome. regarding these men.” vs. 35 2) He placed their opposition, possibly to * He was open minded liberal, not as be against God, not that he believed it, strict as others. but used his religious redirect to b. He compared them to a past rebellions, disarm a volatile situation. “For some time ago rose up, 3. Gamaliel’s counsel was taken but modified. claiming to be somebody. A number of vs. 40-42 men, about four hundred, joined him. He a. They were not satisfied unless they was slain, and all who obeyed him were disciplined them, “And they agreed with scattered and came to nothing. After this him, and when they had called for the man, Judas of rose up in the days apostles and beaten them, they of the census, and drew away many commanded that they should not speak in people after him. He also perished, and the name of Jesus, and let them go.” vs. all who obeyed him were dispersed.” vs. 40 36-37 b. The apostle were not discouraged, “So 1) He being a doctor of the Law should they departed from the presence of the have been able to see that Jesus was council, rejoicing that they were counted the Messiah. worthy to suffer shame for His name.” 2) He should have known that this vs. 41 spiritual revolution was not going to c. The apostles remained faithful, “And come to nothing. daily in the temple, and in every house, c. He gave his advice, “And now I say to they did not cease teaching and you, keep away from these men and let preaching Jesus as the Christ.” vs. 42 them alone; for if this plan or this work is 11 12

Illustration the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is Peter McKenzie, the famous Methodist revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just preacher, was being shown over the Madame shall live by faith.” Rom. 1;16-17 Tussaud’s Wax works in London. Coming to one 3. The truth is always the hardest because it strips object, his guide said, “This is the chair in which away all error, deceit and ignorance and it is costly at Voltaire sat and wrote his atheistic blasphemies” time, but the best things. “Is this the chair?” asked Peter; and then, a. Open rebuke is better than love carefully without seeking permission, he stepped over the cord, concealed. Prov. 27:5 sat down on the chair, and sang as only a real believer b. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the could: #7406 kisses of an enemy are deceitful. Prov. 27:6 Jesus shall reign where’er the sun Doth His successive journeys run: This should have been the type of intervention by His kingdom stretch from shore to shore. Gamaliel! Till moons shall wax and wane no more. II I. The indictment against Gamaliel. Application 1. There will be plenty of situations in our own lives A. Gamaliel was to be looking for the Messiah. that will call upon our witness for God or merely to be 1. He was a doctor of the Law. neutral. a. He was aware of all the promises of a. May we answer as Peter, “We ought to obey Messiah. God rather than man”. Acts 5:29b b. He was to be waiting for the Messiah. b. We are always to be ready to give a defense to 2. He was a teacher of the Law. everyone who asks for a reason for the hope a. He was to of been pointing people to that that is in us, with meekness and fear. 1Pet. . 3:15 b. He was to of been pointing people to 2. The pressure to be ashamed of the of Christ Jesus. or those who preach it is ever present, so we need to 3. He was responsible for declaring to the guard against it. people the coming of Messiah. * Paul said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of a. Rather he indifferent. Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for 13 14

b. Rather he settled for sitting on his high nor keep the fact of his visit hidden from chair of distinction and for the learned a man like Gamaliel. men who sat at his feet. d. He became one of the disciples of Jesus, * Paul being one of them! tending to His burial. Jn. 19:39 2. Joseph of Arimathea. B. Gamaliel thought Jesus was a revolutionist, like a. He came a requested the body of Jesus. Judas Thaudas of Galilee. b. He buried Him in the borrowed tomb 1. The correlation between the men past with Necodemus. rebellions and Jesus was shameful to his c. He was a very wealthy man, possibly person, in view of his preparation and providing the tomb himself and I am sure responsibility. familiar to Gamaliel. 2. The identification of Jesus as a political 3. . rebel was an insult to God the Father, Who a. He was Gamaliel’s best student, the only sent Him. complaint he had was that he could not 3. The thought that the apostles would soon give Paul enough books to read. disappear, was a charge to his own spiritual b. He knew Paul’s fervency in Judaism, deafness. even to persecuting the Christians in 4. The consequences was that this honored Jerusalem. Doctor was spiritually blind and he was c. He was responsible for the stoning of leading the blind, both falling into the ditch Stephen. as Jesus taught. d. He was converted as he was on his way to bring back Christians, who had fled to C. Gamaliel had to explain the number of Jews Damascus. that had come to Jesus. e. He had heard of the radical 1. . transformation of Paul, through many. a. He came by night to Jesus. b. He received the message of the new Illustration birth. General William Booth, the founder of the c. He could not of remained altogether Salvation Army, define it when he said: “I consider silent to other Pharisees about his visit that the chief dangers which will confront the twentieth century will be: 15 16

Religion without the Holy Spirit. 3. The Gamaliel type believer in church has to think without Christ, about the committed and holy life of the sold-out Forgiveness without regeneration believers, who are walking in the works prepared for Morality without God and them, they are a witness against them. Heaven without hell.” #4958 * For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that Application we should walk in them.” Eph. 2:10 1. How many of people sit in churches week in and week out listening to the word of God, but not The was the indictment against Gamaliel! growing, developing and maturing, not being able to teach others. Conclusion * “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, We want to look at the man Gamaliel and study him you need someone to teach you again the first from three vantage points. principles of the oracles of God; and you have come I. The identity of Gamaliel! to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who II. The intervention of Gamaliel! III. The indictment against Gamaliel! partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Heb. 5:12-14 2. The number of people and Pastors who are in churches and call themselves Christians but do not believe things that are crucial to the person of Jesus Christ and the faith, are self-deceived and deceivers of others. Gal. 6:7-8 a. They do not believe that Jesus was born of a virgin by the Holy Spirit. b. They do not believe in a literal second coming. c. They do not believe that you have to live a holy life. d. They do not believe in eternal punishment.