Acts 5:34
Then stood there up one in the council, 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; Then stood there up one in the council, 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;
The moment comes while the apostles are bearing clear, bold witness in Jerusalem after Jesus' rejection and crucifixion. Empowered by the Holy Spirit they preach, perform signs and healings, and draw many believers. Their words and works so represent Jesus that their hearers recognize they have learned from him, while priests and rulers hear their testimony.
The verse belongs to the closing part of Acts 5, whose account including the death of Ananias and Sapphira shows that God will surely punish deceptive and unjust dealings in His work in order that the truth shall triumph. Those dealings include oppressive business, using lawyers to take advantage, injustice, exacting exorbitant prices, conniving at fraud, and diverting His means into a wrong channel.
Gamaliel is a Pharisee, a learned doctor and respected teacher of the law, a man of high position held in reputation among all the people. He is a member of the council with authority to counsel it, and his learning and standing give weight to his counsel. Standing up in the council, he cautiously commands that the apostles be put forth and taken outside for a little space before he speaks on their behalf.
His intervention meets a plan for immediate violence. Cut to the heart by Peter's testimony that they must obey God rather than men, the rulers take counsel to slay them. Accused by Spirit-filled apostles of murdering Christ, the priests and rulers are enraged. Though already guilty of Christ's blood, they decide without further trial and without authority from the Roman officers to take the law into their own hands, kill the prisoners, and stain their hands with the apostles' blood.
God raises up this man from within the council itself to stay that violence. The Holy Spirit moves upon him. His calm and judicious intellect recognizes God's voice in the apostles' words, and he sees that the violent step would lead to grave and terrible consequences.
He advises the council to leave the apostles alone and wait until the character of the movement is clearer. He warns that work begun by people will fail, but work from God cannot be overthrown. Opposing it might mean being found fighting against God.
His plea in their behalf prevails to spare them and restrain the rulers' violence from immediately killing them. The council reluctantly follows his counsel by releasing the prisoners after beating them.