Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | Acts 22:3 ¶ "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel, strictly according to the law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as you all are today. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Acts 22:3 ¶ "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strictness of the law of our fathers, being ardent and passionate for God just as all of you are today. |
Bible Question:
Acts: What was the role of Gamaliel? |
Bible Answer: Gamaliel was a very respected and good Rabbi during the days of Jesus and Paul. Probably one of the best during Paul's day. In Paul's day, Jewish boys in there early teens would want to follow a Rabbi. They would find a Rabbi they hoped to follow and ask. The Rabbi usually did not accept them, they limited their disciples to a few, never more than 70 at a time, but usually much less. To be a diciple of Gamaliel would mean the young man had the Torah (first 5 books of the Bible) committed to memory in Hebrew, and most likely all of the Old Testament. Paul would have begun walking with Gamaliel at a young age in his teens. To be a disciple of Gamaleil was saying a huge thing. It might be like saying, “I studied under Charles Spurgeon.” Jesus disciples too would have been in their teens, with the exception of Peter who was over 20 at the end of Jesus' ministry for sure. Following a Rabbi was not just learning what they knew and taught. Following a Rabbi meant becoming like the Rabbi. It was a total immersion. Gamaliel was more lenient (some say Liberal, but that has current political connotations that confuse.) He was not in the majority in his day. After the Jewish wars of the late 60's, most of the school of Shamie was killed off and the school of Hillel (Gamaliel's Grandfather) is the teaching that lived on and does to this day. Paul, by stoning Stephen, was NOT following the advice of his Rabbi, who would do almost anything to prevent the death penalty. The Torah is for LIFE not death. When Jesus meets the woman caught in adultery and they ask if she should be stoned, Jesus is following the logic and path of Hillel. Jesus and Hillel agree most of the time except when it comes to divorce. Jesus remained very strict on the limits of divorce. So Gamaliel was a good guy. He lived during the time of the Messiah, and even though he was a shinning star of Torah teaching in his day, even he missed the Messiah. MJH |
Up | View Branch | ID# 184748 | ||
Questions and/or Subjects for Acts 22:3 | Author | ||
|
angelface | ||
|
Vkilcrest | ||
|
Tim3:16 | ||
|
Coach Dololly | ||
|
MJH |