ACTS LESSON 12

    We will pick up this lesson in Acts 5:33. In the last lesson we
learned that the apostles of Jesus, led by Peter had escaped from jail
and were back in the temple preaching.  They had been commanded of the
high priest not to speak any more in Jesus' name.  The apostles told
these religious leaders that they in fact caused the death of Jesus.
They, also, told them that they had need to repent.  The Jewish law
said that you needed two witnesses to establish a fact.  The disciples
reminded them that they were all witnesses of Jesus' resurrection and
that the operation of the Holy Ghost in the miracle healings was
actually a witness, also.  We will now pick up this lesson in verse
33.

    Acts 5:33 "When they heard [that], they were cut [to the heart],
and took counsel to slay them."

    They would have to get Peter and these other apostles quieted
down, or they would be thrown out of their high position in the
temple.  This deeply grieved them that they might lose their high
esteem among the people, and they started figuring out a way to kill
these apostles to get them quieted down.  You would have thought they
would have had a guilty conscience and repented, but they did not.
Their only fear was of losing their power over the people.

    Acts 5:34 "Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee,
named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the
people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;"

    Gamaliel means reward of God.  This man was a very educated man in
the law and seems to have wisdom in the decisions he makes.  First of
all, he is very careful to put the apostles back out of hearing range,
so they cannot hear him plead their case.  Had they been in close
range, the rulers would not have listened, because they would not want
to lose face before these Hebrews.  This man is of the same group as
Paul (Pharisees).  Paul would later remind the Hebrews that he was a
Pharisee.  This Gamaliel was highly thought of among not only his
people, but these rulers as well; Perhaps, because of the wise
decisions he made. He was head of the school in Jerusalem.

    Acts 5:35 "And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to
yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men."

    We see, here, a solemn warning to be careful in dealing with these
men.  Gamaliel is saying, you must be sure of what you are accusing
them of and, also, careful not to cause their followers to come in
force against you.  They could cause a really big problem for the
leaders of the temple, if they do not handle it just right.  This man
is not only an educated man in the law, but uses very good judgement,
as well.

    Acts 5:36 "For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself
to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined
themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were
scattered, and brought to nought."

    It is uncertain to me who Theudas was.  The only thing we know for
 sure is that he claimed to be a great prophet and convinced about 400
 to follow him.  This Theudas did not pass the test of time.  Theudas
 was killed and his followers scattered.  The difference being made
 here is that Jesus Christ had more followers after His death than in
 His life.  One giant difference is that Jesus rose from the grave.

    Acts 5:37 "After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of
the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and
all, [even] as many as obeyed him, were dispersed."

    This Judas of Galilee was not really from Galilee, but Gamala.
Galilee was the place he led his rebellion from.  He was opposing the
census, so tradition says.  In the Bible, the only mention of him is
here.  He was killed just like Theudas and his followers scattered.
You see, these both were worldly men and the men who followed them
were of the flesh.  They were not spiritual men. There really is no
comparison at all to the Lord Jesus Christ.

    Acts 5:38 "And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let
them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come
to nought:"

    This Gamaliel is advising the temple leaders to just let the
apostles of Jesus alone and let them run their course.  If they are
not of God, this that they teach will die out and the followers of
this Jesus will be scattered.

    Acts 5:39 "But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply
ye be found even to fight against God."

    This is the wisest suggestion he has made yet.  He tells them,
just in case this is of God, then you are fighting against God and
there is no way for you to win.  One of the statements Jesus said to
the disciples, when they tried to stop someone from ministering in
Jesus' name is   don't do it.  In Mark 9:39 we read, "But Jesus said,
Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my
name, that can lightly speak evil of me." Mark 9:40 "For he that is
not against us is on our part." It would be well for all followers of
Christ to remember this Scripture.  We should all be working together,
not fighting each other.

    Acts 5:40 "And to him they agreed: and when they had called the
apostles, and beaten [them], they commanded that they should not speak
in the name of Jesus, and let them go."

    If they truly agreed that these men might be of God, why did they
beat them?  They still commanded them not to speak in Jesus' name.  It
seems to me that, they were still against them, even knowing that they
might be of God.  Somehow, I feel that their religious leaders knew
all along that these apostles were of God.  They were just jealous and
were not willing to admit they were wrong.
    Acts 5:41 "And they departed from the presence of the council,
rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name."

    This is such a far cry from what the Christians of today do.
Christians, now, want everything to go perfectly for them.  They are
really not interested in suffering for Christ at all.  These early
Christians wanted to be as near like Jesus as they could.  They were
pleased to suffer for Him, He suffered first that they might be saved.
They felt to suffer for Christ was an honor, not shame.

    Acts 5:42 "And daily in the temple, and in every house, they
ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ."

    You can easily see that these apostles did not heed the command of
the rulers of the temple.  They obeyed God and not man.  The church
seems to always grow the most in times of persecution.

                                 Notes




































                           Acts 12 Questions


1.  What did these rulers want to do to the apostles?
2.  What did cut to the heart mean?
3.  Who stood up in the council to advise them?
4.  What was he a doctor of?
5.  What did he suggest to do with the apostles?
6.  Why did they have respect for Gamaliel?
7.  What warning did Gamaliel give in verse 35?
8.  What was the name of the false leader mentioned in verse 36?
9.  How many followers did he have?
10. What happened to his followers?
11. Who was Judas of Galilee?
12. What happened to his followers?
13. What kind of men were both of these men?
14. If these apostles are not of God, what will happen to their
    followers?
15. If it is God, what are these rulers actually doing?
16. Why did Jesus say not to stop someone ministering in His name?
17. What lesson should all denominations of Jesus' followers learn
    from this?
18. After they agreed with Gamaliel what did they do to the apostles?
19. What did they command them not to do?
20. What did the apostles rejoice about?
21. Where did the apostles preach daily?

                                 Notes