"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 be found to fight against God." Acts 5:38-39 NKJ

Through Peter and the Apostles preaching of the gospel, thousands in Jerusalem and surrounding cities responded with faith in Christ. A second meeting of the Sanhedrin was concerned with what to do about these bold, courageous men who were committed "followers of the way” who the Sanhedrin perceived to be heretics and rebels. Gamaliel, Paul's former Law teacher in Rabbinical School, cites three examples from recent history (verses 33-37) of rebellions that had failed miserably. He persuades the ruling body of the Jews to not sentence them to death, but after beating them, let them go. Gamaliel's sound reasoning was that if the movement is of God, it will succeed; if not, it too will vanish into ignoble history. Don't be found fighting against God.