Acts 5: 35-42 - Preaching and teaching that the Christ is Jesus

5:35-37

Gamaliel warns them to be careful what they do. He cites two recent “messiahs” and what happened to them. There is some argument about the authenticity of the two examples, largely because Josephus, a Jewish historian, who refers to a Theudas from around 44 AD, ie several years later than this incident occurred. There really is no reason to assume that Luke is mistaken. It is possible that Josephus got his facts wrong, or, perhaps more likely, that this is a different Theudas. Attempted uprisings and aspiring “messiahs” were not uncommon. Anyway, the point that Gamaliel is drawing attention to is that after these two “messiahs” died, their followers quickly dispersed. In this case things really got going after Jesus died!

5:38,39

Gamaliel’s advice was not based on belief in Christ, but in logic. Nevertheless, underlying it was some godly wisdom. If what the apostles were doing was of God, then they would be foolish to oppose it. If it was not of God, then the two examples he had quoted, and doubtless many others, it would fizzle out. There is a degree of illogicality in much opposition to Christianity.  For instance, sometimes there are cases of people being disciplined at work, or even sacked, for praying. But if there is no God, then what does it matter if someone prays? All they are doing is speaking to the air. But if there is a God, moreover, if there is a good God, then you would be foolish to oppose that person, and if there is a good God the prayers can only benefit you!

5:40-42

The Sanhedrin took the advice of Gamaliel, though they did give the apostles a beating first! Things were rather different in those days. They again told them not to speak in the name of Jesus. They were just doing this as some sort of face saving device, it hadn’t worked before, and was unlikely to work now!

The apostles left and rejoiced that they had been considered worthy to suffer for the sake of Christ, this is an example of Matt 5:11,12 being fulfilled. Note that they did not try and bring a lawsuit against the Sanhedrin! Obviously that really wouldn’t have been a possibility in those days, but there whole attitude is different from what we often find today.

Most importantly, far from following the Sanhedrin’s instructions, they continued to teach and preach, both in the temple and going from house to house. And it seems that the Sanhedrin did not seek to arrest them again at that time.