Acts 5:37
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. 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.
The words are those of Gamaliel, a learned Pharisee and doctor of the law, a man of great reputation, learning, high position, and extreme caution. He spoke them in pleading for the apostles after the rulers were cut to the heart by their witness that they must obey God rather than men and took counsel to kill them. Knowing he was dealing with murderers of Christ who would stop at nothing to carry out their purpose, he recognized the divine voice in the disciples' words and saw clearly that the violent course contemplated by the priests would lead to terrible consequences. He therefore had the imprisoned apostles removed and then spoke with great deliberation and calmness, telling the men of Israel to take heed what they intended to do. His counsel was to let the movement opposing them reveal its character before using violence, and his words prevailed to save the apostles at that time.
His second example of a merely human movement, after Theudas, was that Judas of Galilee rose in the days of the taxing at the time of the census enrollment. He drew away much people after him and gathered many followers. Yet he perished and died, and all who obeyed and followed him were dispersed and scattered. His failed movement stands as the record given in the verse.
Judas and the scattering of his followers serve as proof and warning that a movement, cause, counsel, undertaking, or work originating with men and led by men will fail and come to nothing. Gamaliel therefore urges refraining from the apostles and leaving them alone. For if their counsel or work is of men it will come to naught like that of Judas, but if it is of God it cannot be overthrown. To oppose it in that case is to oppose God and to fight against God.
Together with the rest of Acts 5, the verse shows that God will just as surely punish deceptive, unstraightforward, oppressive, and unjust dealings in His work as He punished Ananias and Sapphira. This includes using lawyers to take advantage of circumstances, exacting exorbitant prices, practicing fraud and connivance, hindering His cause, and diverting His means into a wrong channel. For He has a work to accomplish on earth in order that the truth shall triumph, and He will pass judgment against every wrongdoer.