Acts 5:33-42 - Gamaliel's Advice

³³ But when they heard this, they were cut asunder as with a saw, and took counsel how to make away with them. ³⁴ Then arose a certain Pharisee, in the sanhedrim, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, held in high esteem by all the people, and ordered the apostles to be taken out for a little space; ³⁵ and he said unto them, Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves respecting these men, what ye mean to do to them. ³⁶ For before these days arose Theudas, saying that he himself was a singular personage: to whom a number of men, about four hundred, attached themselves: who was taken off; and as many as obeyed him, were dispersed, and came to nothing. ³⁷ And after him arose Judas the Galilean, in the days of the enrolment, and drew away a multitude of the populace after him: he also perished, and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. ³⁸ And as to the matters now before you, I say unto you, Abstain from these men, and leave them to themselves: for if this design or this work be of men, it will come to nothing: ³⁹ but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; and in that case would be found fighters against God. ⁴⁰ And to him they assented: and calling in the apostles, after scourging them, they commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and dismissed them. ⁴¹ Then they went rejoicing from the presence of the sanhedrim, that for his name's sake, they had been counted worthy to suffer this injurious treatment. ⁴² And all the day long in the temple, and from house to house, they never ceased teaching and preaching Jesus Christ.