Acts 5:38-39 And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.
The words in the above Passage of Scripture are the advice of Gamaliel who we discussed at length yesterday. He was a wise man of great reputation but he also was a politician in every sense of the word. His advice that day was his attempt to please everyone involved instead of taking a strong stand on one side or the other.
We must remember that it had only been twenty years since the Crucifixion of Christ. This would indicate that Gamaliel and many of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and members of the Sanhedrin had firsthand knowledge of Jesus’ Ministry, Crucifixion, Burial, Resurrection, and His appearance to more than 500 people after His death. Many of them probably witnessed the Crucifixion of Christ which put them in a unique position. Would they stand strong in the Law for which they were born to uphold, or would they bend a knee to the Messiah? It wasn’t an easy position to be in.
They didn’t like Jesus because He was a threat to their power and position. Not to mention His Words to them which are recorded by John. You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. (John 8:44)
Although Jesus was no longer on earth, His Apostles and followers now amounted to thousands of people and Gamaliel knew if he came against them, they would surely kill him and all the Pharisees, Sadducees, and the members of the Sanhedrin. So, Gamaliel, their leader, and an expert politician and diplomat, played it safe and did everything he could to please both sides.
The Pharisees, Sadducees, and Sanhedrin wanted to kill the Apostles but Gamaliel talked them out of it saying, And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God. (Acts 5:38-39)
He did allow them to beat them but then they turned them loose to continue their Ministry which they did. And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the Apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the Name of Jesus, and let them go. (Acts 5:40)
Gamaliel was a very smart man but I believe that at some point, the Holy Spirit of God touched his heart and he believed Jesus was the Messiah. Gamaliel was very well studied in the Words of the Prophets. That means he was well-versed in the Words of the Great Prophet Isaiah and all the others. I just cannot believe Gamaliel could not see what so many others saw at that time. That is that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, the Messiah.
If this is true, will we see Gamaliel in Heaven one day? Perhaps, but we don’t know because as far as we do know, he never publicly professed Jesus to be the Messiah and Jesus said, For whoever is ashamed of Me and My Words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own Glory, and in His Father’s, and of the Holy Angels. (Luke 9:26)
Today I say to you: Never be ashamed or afraid to publicly profess Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord because…………..
God is about to…..…….turn the tide……….and you don’t want to be left behind.
Jesus is my Lord! Doreen
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