Gamaliel's Moment

Acts 5: A Pharisee named Gamaliel addressing the Sanhedrin, "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."

There were those who came before Jesus, claiming to be ‘somebody’ and they died…

I stand by my assertion that I have always believed….that if for no other reason to believe that the events of Christ’s life, death, burial and resurrection actually happened, we do not need to look any further than the Apostles themselves. These events, their boldness (post-resurrection) give me a peace that they experienced life change after Christ appeared to them and filled them with the Holy Spirit.

Gamaliel may as well have said it… If they are worshipping The One True God, they will not back down….if not…they will just fade away. This Pharisee was ‘right on the money’ and made a great argument on the behalf of these men and God. This is the first time that I recall a Pharisee publicly on the right side of a God movement.

Men, I believe that there is a great lesson to learn from the Pharisee this morning….people are watching, believers and non believers are watching…and their assertions are the same…..if we truly believe, and our lives were bought with the blood of Christ….there is no backing down. Our persecutions fail in comparison to those the Apostles were facing, yet so many times we turn belly up at the slightest sense of discomfort.

Be bold like Peter.