Acts 5:33-42 - God's plan cannot be thwarted

This passage records the third wave of attack that the apostles encountered. When the Sanhedrin heard what Peter had said, they went berserk. Verse 33 tells us that they intended to kill them.

Peter's words cut them deep. They were so angry that their rage could virtually be felt. Filled with murderous intention, they would have killed the apostles there and then, instantly.  What prevented  them from the violence were probably their fear of how the crowd might react, and also the timely and wise words of Gamaliel, a wise counselor.

Gamaliel was a Pharisee and a well known teacher of the law, and was also highly respected. The fact that they listened to him was amazing. Why? Because many on the council were Sadducees, a rival sect. They differed with Pharisees in some critical doctrinal beliefs.    

This wise teacher ordered that the apostles be sent out so that they could have a short consultation before deciding on how to deal with them.  With insights he counselled the council out of their murderous intention by citing two past rebellious groups, which fizzled out of the scene when their leaders died.

Obviously the two groups of rebels were known to his audience, although there are no records about them. One group was led by a Theudas, who was able to garner a following of 400 men. When he was killed the group dispersed and came to naught. The second group led by a Judas of Galilee had an unspecified following. They also came to naught when that leader perished.

Then Gamaliel brought their focus to the apostles and counselled that they be left alone.  He urged the council to exercise caution by taking  a cue from what happened to those two rebel groups.

Gamaliel told them that if the cause of the apostles was not of God, it would die of its own accord. But if it was, he argued, then the Sanhedrin could be  found opposing and fighting against God. And they could never prevail against God. How true!  So the council took Gamaliel's wise advice.

Calling in the apostles, the Sanhedrin ordered them to be flogged. Then they were released after being warned sternly not to speak in the name of Jesus again. They expected the apostles to be  frightened into compliance and be silent. But they were dead wrong!

Instead of feeling pain and leaving the court defeated and withdrawn, the apsotles went out  triumphant and rejoicing. Everyone of them felt so privileged to be counted worthy to suffer for the Lord.
Contrary to the desire of the Sanhedrin, the apostles went out and proclaimed the name of Jesus every day.  They proclaimed Him in the temple and they also proclaimed Him from home to home. In other words, Christ was declared publicly and openly, and Christ was also declared privately and within the confine of smaller gatherings.

The response of the apostles reminds us of what James said. "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:2-4).

We can also take a lesson from Gamaliel's advice. It makes good sense even for us today. There are problems that would take care of themselves. So we should not waste time by freting and worrying  about them unnecessarily.  We should instead just take steps to make sure that we stay connected to God. Only His plans and will for our life really matter.

What's more! Gamaliel's advice  also reminds us that we should never oppose what God is doing. Unlike the non-believers who would oppose the preaching of the Gospel, Christians could oppose God by living an ungodly life. We could oppose God's plan for our life by merely going through the motion of righteous living but having a conduct of wilful contradiction to His Word.