Gamaliel

33When the leaders heard this, they were very angry. They talked about putting the apostles to death.

When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.

NoteThe old words say they were "cut to the heart." It means the words stung them and made them furious.

34Then Gamaliel stood up in the council. He was a Pharisee. He was a teacher of God's law, and everyone respected him. He gave a command. He told them to put the apostles outside for a short time.

Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;

NoteA teacher of the law studied God's rules and explained them to everyone. People came to him with their questions. Gamaliel was one of the most famous of these teachers. A Pharisee was part of a group that carefully kept God's rules.

35He said, "Men of Israel, be careful what you plan to do to these men."

And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.

36"Some time ago Theudas came along. He said he was someone important. About four hundred men followed him. He was killed. His followers scattered, and nothing came of it."

For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.

NoteTheudas gathered men to fight the rulers. Soldiers stopped him, and his followers ran away.

37"After him came Judas from Galilee, back when people were being counted. He led many people away with him. He died too, and all his followers scattered."

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.

NoteThe Romans ruled the land. Sometimes they counted every person so they could make each one pay money to Rome. People hated being counted this way.

38"So here is what I say. Stay away from these men. Leave them alone. If their plan comes from people, it will fail."

And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:

39"But if it comes from God, you cannot stop them. You might even end up fighting against God."

But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

40The council agreed with him. They called the apostles in and beat them. They ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus. Then they let them go.

And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

NoteBeing beaten meant being whipped on the back. It was a punishment the leaders could order.

41The apostles left the council full of joy. God had counted them worthy to be shamed for Jesus' name.

And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

NoteBeing shamed meant being treated badly where everyone could see. The apostles were glad to go through it for Jesus.

42Every day they taught in the temple and in homes. They never stopped telling the good news about Jesus Christ.

And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

NoteChrist is a title, not a last name. It means the special king God had promised to send.

1Paul said, "Brothers and fathers, please listen. I want to explain myself to you."

Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.

NoteA defense is what you say when people blame you for something. Paul was telling his own story. Soldiers had just pulled him away from an angry crowd.

2The crowd heard him speak Hebrew, their own language. So they grew even quieter. Then Paul said:

(And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)

NoteMost people there could speak Greek too. Hebrew was their own old language. Hearing it made the crowd stop and listen.

3"I am a Jew. I was born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia. But I grew up here in this city. My teacher was Gamaliel. He taught me to obey God's law just the way our people always did. I cared about God very much, the same as all of you do today."

I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.

NoteA Jew is one of God's people, Israel. Tarsus was a big city far away, in the land we now call Turkey. Gamaliel was a famous teacher of God's law. Students sat on the floor by their teacher's feet to learn.

4"I hurt the people who followed this Way, even until some of them died. I tied up men and women and put them in prison."

And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

Note"This way" was an early name for people who followed Jesus. They were called that before anyone called them Christians.

5"The high priest, the top leader at the temple, knows this is true. So do all the older leaders. They gave me letters written to the brothers in Damascus. I went there to tie up the believers. I planned to bring them back to Jerusalem to be punished."

As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.

NoteThe letters were like written orders. They gave Paul permission to arrest people. Damascus was a city far from Jerusalem. Walking there took about a week. Here "the brothers" means Paul's own people, the Jews who lived in Damascus.