2. The Mistakes of Gamaliel
“And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God” (Acts 5:38-39).
Reasonable
Level-Headed
Sensible
Balanced
He was an appeaser
He was a compromiser
He was a fence-straddler
He was indecisive
He refused to take a stand
He declined to acknowledge the obvious
“And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go”
(Acts 5:40).
Gamaliel
A Pharisee, and an influential member of the Sanhedrin Council. Gamaliel had been one of Paul’s teachers when he was a Jewish student of the Law (Acts 22:3).
History says he died about A.D. 52.
A Teacher in Israel ~ John 3:10
Knew the Scriptures ~ John 5:39
Jesus taught Openly ~ John 18:20-21

3. The Mistakes of Gamaliel
He made a False Comparison (Acts 5:36-37).
Theudas
Judas
Jesus
Krishna
Mohammed
Confucius
Gautama Buddha

4. The Mistakes of Gamaliel
He made a False Comparison (Acts 5:36-37).
He used a False Guideline (Acts 5:38-39).
Jesus is the Son of God
One Disciple Hundreds of Disciples
The church is Measured by
Scriptures
The church is still the church
Famous Unknown
The church is still the church
Small Large

5. The Mistakes of Gamaliel
He made a False Comparison (Acts 5:36-37).
He used a False Guideline (Acts 5:38-39).
He Reached a False Conclusion (Acts 5:38).
“When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.”(Matthew 27:24).
Fence-Straddlers
“And Elijah came to all the people, and said, how long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him”
(1 Kings 18:21).
Fence-Straddlers
“And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing” (Acts 5:38).

6. The Mistakes of Gamaliel . . . prevented him from doing
He made a False Comparison (Acts 5:36-37).
He used a False Guideline (Acts 5:38-39).
He Reached a False Conclusion (Acts 5:38).
. . . prevented him from doing
what his student did,
Acts 22:16.

7. Crucify Him, Crucify Him
What Will You Do?
“. . . what then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”
(Matthew 27:22)
Crucify Him, Crucify Him