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NASB | Acts 5:34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in the Council and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Acts 5:34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law [of Moses], highly esteemed by all the people, stood up in the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) and ordered that the men be taken outside for a little while. |
Subject: Did Gamaliel give sound advice? |
Bible Note: Nolan you asked a great question. Many people believe that since it is in the Bible it is inspired. God permitted uninspired sayings, quotes, and words of man to be included to provide completeness to the pictures He was painting. Gamaliel’s advice while advantageous to the disciples and seemingly making sense is not inspired nor is it correct. Many false religions, leaders and cults have endured while many Godly ventures have failed. Today many people apply this test to ministry, if they see a fast growing ministry they naturally say it is must be of God. Yet many fast growing ministries are racked with false teaching and just plain junk. In the same sense many faithful and totally correct ministries seem to stumble and grope through never making a big impact. I think this is where discernment comes into the picture. Too few Christians use discernment in their evaluation of men and a ministry. I saw a nationally known Evangelist, call a woman onto the platform one evening in a congregation of 700-1000. He was in a playful mood and he proceeded to tease with this saint. He told her little sins she had committed before she was saved, little things like her and “husband to be” sneaking a little wine and telling her mother they hadn’t. He did it in a very playful and non condemning way. Everyone was laughing, the poor dear saint was blushing, it was funny. The people in the congregation were in awe of this mighty man of God that can read this saints “mail”. The applause was thunderous! Then the Holy Spirit said to me if God forgets our sins and moves them as far as the east is from the west how can this man possibly know about them? Then He (the Holy Spirit) answered the question, there was only one way "familiar spirits". This man was moving in familiar spirits either intently or unintently but doing so none the less. Nobody was using any discernment to pick up on it. This man did many similar things through the course of his 3 week revival services. Each night it was a packed house and each night he did something equally revealing. Yet each night 700-1000 people walked out of the church raving about how Godly this man was. Yet down the street a young unknown evangelist was preaching his heart out glorifying Jesus and magnifying God and he had 25 – 50. No Gamliel’s advice sounded good and thankful made sense to the listeners securing the release of the disciples, but it did not establish a standard by which to judge ministries by. |