SEV Biblia, Chapter 5:34
Entonces levantndose en el concilio un fariseo llamado Gamaliel, doctor de la ley, venerable a todo el pueblo, mand que sacasen fuera un poco a los apstoles.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 5:34
Verse 34. A Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law] "This," says Dr. Lightfoot, "was Rabban Gamaliel the first; commonly, by way of distinction, called Rabban Gamaliel the elder. He was president of the council after the death of his own father, Rabban Simeon, who was the son of Hillel. He was St. Paul's master, and the 35th receiver of the traditions, and on this account might not be improperly termed nomodidaskalov, a doctor of the law, because he was one that kept and handed down the Cabala received from Mount Sinai. He died eighteen years before the destruction of Jerusalem, his son Simeon succeeding him in the chair, who perished in the ruins of the city." Though probably no favourer of Christianity, yet, for a Pharisee, he seems to have possessed a more liberal mind than most of his brethren; the following advice was at once humane, sensible, candid, and enlightened.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 34. Then stood there up one in the council , etc.] Or in the sanhedrim, which the high priest had called together; this phrase is left out in the Syriac version: yet certain it is, that the great council was now assembled, and the disciples were now before them, and this man, who was one of the members of it, stood up in it; for it seems to have been the custom, that though they usually sat, yet when anyone had anything to say, or made a speech, he rose up from his seat. A Pharisee named Gamaliel ; he is described by his sect of religion, a Pharisee; of which, (See Gill on Matthew 3:7) and by his name Gamaliel: he was the son of Rabban Simeon, the son of Hillell the great; which Simeon is, by some, thought to be the same that took Christ into his arms, ( Luke 2:25) and this Gamaliel was also the master of the Apostle Paul, ( Acts 22:3). This was a very ancient name in Israel; the prince of the children of Manasseh, that offered at the dedication of the tabernacle, was of this name, ( Numbers 7:54) and perhaps this man might be of the same tribe. He is further described by his profession, a doctor of law ; he was one of the Misnic doctors, one of the fathers of tradition, that received the oral law from those before him, and handed it down to others; and was the five and thirtieth of this sort, as the Jews say f210 , from the giving of the law at Mount Sinai; or, as others f211 , the thirty first: had in reputation among all the people ; and therefore his advice was the more likely to take place, without giving offence, or exposing to danger, seeing he was highly esteemed, not only in the sanhedrim, but among the common people; and that not only because he was a Pharisee, and a very strict one, the glory of that sect, insomuch that it is said f212 , that when he died, the glory of the law ceased, and purity and pharisaism died; that but because of his years, dignity, and place also; he is called commonly Gamaliel, qzh , the elder, because he lived to a great age f213 . He died eighteen years before the destruction of Jerusalem f214 , and was had in veneration to the last. It is said of him f215 , he ordered, before his death, that they should carry him to his grave in linen; for before this time they used to carry out the dead in silk; and this was more grievous to his relations than his death itself; because they thought he was not interred honourably enough. And it is also reported, that Onkelos, the proselyte, at his death, burnt as much for him in goods and spices, as came to seventy Tyrian pounds f216 . He was also commonly called by the name of Rabban, which was a more honourable title than that of Rabbi or Rab; and his father Simeon was the first that had it f217 ; and he was now president of the sanhedrim: and hence he used that authority which is expressed in the next words, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space ; he ordered the apostles to be put out of the sanhedrim for a little while, that they might not hear what he had to say, and take encouragement from it; and that he might more freely speak his mind without giving them any countenance. The Alexandrian copy reads, the men, instead of the apostles; and so the Vulgate Latin version.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 34-42 - The Lord still has all hearts in his hands, and sometimes directs the prudence of the worldly wise, so as to restrain the persecutors. Commo sense tells us to be cautious, while experience and observation sho that the success of frauds in matters of religion has been very short Reproach for Christ is true preferment, as it makes us conformable to his pattern, and serviceable to his interest. They rejoiced in it. I we suffer ill for doing well, provided we suffer it well, and as we should, we ought to rejoice in that grace which enabled us so to do The apostles did not preach themselves, but Christ. This was the preaching that most offended the priests. But it ought to be the constant business of gospel ministers to preach Christ: Christ, and his crucified; Christ, and him glorified; nothing beside this, but what ha reference to it. And whatever is our station or rank in life, we shoul seek to make Him known, and to glorify his name __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
αναστας 450 5631 V-2AAP-NSM δε 1161 CONJ τις 5100 X-NSM εν 1722 PREP τω 3588 T-DSN συνεδριω 4892 N-DSN φαρισαιος 5330 N-NSM ονοματι 3686 N-DSN γαμαλιηλ 1059 N-PRI νομοδιδασκαλος 3547 N-NSM τιμιος 5093 A-NSM παντι 3956 A-DSM τω 3588 T-DSM λαω 2992 N-DSM εκελευσεν 2753 5656 V-AAI-3S εξω 1854 ADV βραχυ 1024 A-ASN τι 5100 X-ASN τους 3588 T-APM αποστολους 652 N-APM ποιησαι 4160 5658 V-AAN
Vincent's NT Word Studies
34. The apostles. The best texts substitute touv ajnqrwpouv, the men. A little space (bracu). Better as Rev., a little while.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
5:34 {Gamaliel} (gamaliel). The grandson of Hillel, teacher of Paul (#Ac 22:3), later president of the Sanhedrin, and the first of the seven rabbis termed "rabban." It is held by some that he was one of the doctors who heard the Boy Jesus in the temple (#Lu 2:47) and that he was a secret disciple like Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, but there is no evidence of either position. Besides, he appears here as a loyal Pharisee and "a doctor of the law" (nomodidaskalos). this word appears already in #Lu 5:17 of the Pharisaic doctors bent on criticizing Jesus, which see. Paul uses it of Judaizing Christians (#1Ti 1:7). Like other great rabbis he had a great saying: "Procure thyself a teacher, avoid being in doubt; and do not accustom thyself to give tithes by guess." He was a man of judicial temper and not prone to go off at a tangent, though his brilliant young pupil Saul went to the limit about Stephen without any restraint on the part of Gamaliel so far as the record goes. Gamaliel champions the cause of the apostles as a Pharisee to score a point against the Sadducees. He acts as a theological opportunist, not as a disciple of Christ. He felt that a temporizing policy was best. There are difficulties in this speech of Gamaliel and it is not clear how Luke obtained the data for the address. It is, of course, possible that Saul was present and made notes of it for Luke afterwards. {Had in honor of all the people} (timios panti twi lawi). Ethical dative. timios from time, old word meaning precious, dear. {The men} (tous anqrwpous). Correct text as in verse #35, not "the apostles" as Textus Receptus.
