Gamaliel

Two persons by this name are reported in the Bible.

1) The son of Pedahzur of the tribe of Manasseh who rose to become the leader of his tribe and appointed to aid Moses in the census (Num 1:10). Like the leaders of the other tribe, Gamaliel also participated in the offering at the dedication of the altar on behalf of his people (Num 7:54, 59), and led the tribe out when they leave their camp on their journey to the Promised Land. Nothing else is known about him.

CONCORDANCE (NIV):

Num 1:10 — . . .from the sons of Joseph: from Ephraim, Elishama son of Ammihud; from Manasseh, Gamaliel son of Pedahzur; . . .

Num 2:20 — The tribe of Manasseh will be next to them. The leader of the people of Manasseh is Gamaliel son of Pedahzur. 21 His division numbers 32,200.

Num 7:54 — On the eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, the leader of the people of Manasseh, brought his offering. [His offering was one silver plate . . .

Num 7:59 — . . . and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.

Num 10:23 — Gamaliel son of Pedahzur was over the division of the tribe of Manasseh,

2) Mentioned by Paul as his teacher (Acts 22:3), Gamaliel was one of the most illustrious teachers of the law in the history of early rabbinical Judaism, one of only seven teachers to be granted the honourary title of Rabban (a far higher honour than a Rabbi). He is still remembered in Judaism as the "Beauty of the Law." The Talmud claims that "since Rabban Gamaliel died the glory of the law has ceased." But Gamaliel also hailed from a famous Pharisiac family; the great Hillel was his grandfather.

Apart from being Paul's teacher, Gamaliel also appears in Acts 5. When the preaching of Peter and the early disciples proved so effective, the Jewish leaders of Jerusalem had them arrested and plunged into jail. That night, however, an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison and commanded Peter to "stand in the temple courts and tell the people the full message of this new life" (v20), which they did the next morning. When the Jewish leaders gathered to consider their case, they found that their prisoners were missing. When the apostles were finally brought into their presence again and instructed not to preach anymore, Peter told them that they must obey "God rather than men." Enraged, the Sanhedrin wanted to put Peter and his associates to death, whereupon Gamaliel, having sent the apostles outside, warned the Sanhedrin about the lack of wisdom in their decision:

Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some 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. After 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. Therefore, 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. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.

The apostles were, hence dismissed with only a good beating. Gamaliel's wisdom reflected in this incident shows why he was so revered among his own people.

There were rumours that Gamaliel was already a secret Christian at that time, and eventually declared for the faith and was baptized, together with his son (also Gamaliel) and Nicodemus. The fact that Gamaliel lived to become Rabban suggests that these rumours remain just that, wishful rumours.

CONCORDANCE (NIV):

Acts 5:34 — But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honoured by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. [Then he addressed them: "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men.]

Acts 22:3 — I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.