God used an unexpected man to defend the apostles. The apostles had been arrested for preaching about Jesus and were on trial before the Sanhedrin, the ruling council of the Jews. Peter had just declared that they would not obey the council but God and continue to preach Jesus. The council had ordered Jesus to die, but God had raised Him from the dead.
Acts 5: 33 When they heard this, the high council was furious and decided to kill them. 34 But one member, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, who was an expert in religious law and respected by all the people, stood up and ordered that the men be sent outside the council chamber for a while. 35 Then he said to his colleagues, “Men of Israel, take care what you are planning to do to these men! [1]
God had supernaturally released the apostles from prison through an angel. Now, their lives were threatened, which also threatened the life of the church. God did another miracle, which was less flashy but just as unbelievable. A Pharisee became an unexpected ally of the church.
Council Politics
The majority of the council were of the sect of the Sadducees. These men did not believe in the resurrection or angels and only took the first five books of the Old Testament as Scripture. The Pharisees focused on outward purity. They had added more laws to God’s law. This took their focus off inward purity and allowed impure motives for their actions. They believed in the resurrection and angels and the whole Old Testament. The Pharisees, while in the minority, often overruled the Sadducees because of their popularity with the people.
Gamaliel was a highly respected rabbi and the teacher of Saul of Tarsus, who became the Apostle Paul. He may not have wanted the Sadducees to have a victory over this case by killing the apostles. The issue of resurrection was a hot topic in the council and could result in vicious arguments. Paul used this controversy to his advantage in Acts 23:6.
So, Gamaliel sent the apostles out of the room to make his case. He proposed a let-live attitude that carried the day. He grouped Jesus with other rebels, so we don’t think he was a believer, yet God used him to save the apostles’ lives.
God Can Use Whom He Wants
The enemy was behind the council’s attempt to stifle the apostles. But God would not let their plans work. Psalm 2: 1 Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans?… 4 But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them. [2]
God can use unbelievers. “Elsewhere, the Old Testament records God using rebels, adulterers, thieves, and even a donkey to get his message across.”[3] Don’t be surprised when God does unexpected things to allow His Word to spread across the earth. Even though Gamaliel did not come to faith, his actions allowed many others to know Jesus. How can God use you to build His Kingdom?
To learn more about how God used an unexpected man, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/apostles-persecuted
[1,2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers.
[3] Barton, B. B., & Osborne, G. R. (1999). Acts (p. 91). Tyndale House.