The physician Luke wrote how the apostles were put in prison for teaching and preaching, and after an angel freed them, they were teaching and preaching again when the high priest confronted them and asked, “Did not we straightly command you that you should not teach in this name?” He told them they had “filled all Jerusalem” with their “doctrine”, and after “Peter and the other apostles” told them, “we ought to obey God rather than men”, the religious leaders were “cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them”. It was at that time, “a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space. And said unto them, You men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do as touching these men. For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed”, and in chapter five and verse thirty-eight of the book of Acts Luke shared how, “Gamaliel” said, “refrain from these men, and let them alone” where we read:
And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone:
for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
The verse begins, “And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone:” Luke began with the words, “and now I say unto you” which means “and at this time I, Gamaliel, utter, declare and proclaim to you, high priest and the other religious leaders”, “refrain from these men” or “stand off, depart and withdraw from these male human beings, the apostles”, “and let them alone” which means “and allow and permit the apostles to do as they wish or desire”. Luke shared how “Gamaliel” told the other religious leaders to “withdraw” from the apostles and permit them to continue in their ministry.
The verse continues, “for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:” Luke added the words, “for if this counsel” which means “because, since and on account that whether or in case the advice, purpose or will” “or this work be of men” or “or the business, employment, enterprise and undertaking of the apostles exists from people whether male or female”, “it will come to nought” which means “the counsel and work will dissolve, disunite, be destroyed and demolished”. Luke shared how “Gamaliel” reasoned that “if” the “counsel and work” of the “apostles” had it's origin in “people”, then it would dissolve and be destroyed.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Gamaliel” reasoned with the other religious leaders. His idea was to “withdraw” from the “apostles” and allow them to continuing ministering because “if” the source of their teachings was from people, it would diminish in the same way as the doctrine from “Theudas and Judas of Galilee”. We see the wisdom in “Gamaliel's” statement because he knew if the “apostles” teachings did not come from God, they were just the ideas of people and they would come to nothing. We shall see how he shifts his conversation to “God” in our next verse, but for now let us consider the idea of the “doctrine of men” versus the “doctrine of God”. God loves people, and His desire is to have a personal relationship with everyone who yields themselves to His Son Jesus. Those who believe and trust in Jesus will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God. All other ways to God fail in their attempt to follow Him because they convey the idea of mankind reaching out to God rather than God reaching out to mankind. Only the “gospel of Jesus Christ” will last, and those who are wise will not only hear it, but also obey God by surrendering their life to His Son Jesus.
Next time Luke shares how, “Gamaliel” says, “if it be of God, you cannot overthrow it”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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