Acts 5

In the Daily Office lectionary cycle, we are in the midst of Acts. Chapter 5 records a phase of conflict between the religious authorities and the Jesus movement. It is one of my favorite vignettes from Acts.

5:33
When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them.

5:34
But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, respected by all the people, stood up and ordered the men to be put outside for a short time.

5:35
Then he said to them, "Fellow Israelites, consider carefully what you propose to do to these men.

5:36
For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him; but he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and disappeared.

5:37
After him Judas the Galilean rose up at the time of the census and got people to follow him; he also perished, and all who followed him were scattered.

5:38
So in the present case, I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone; because if this plan or this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail;

5:39
but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them—in that case you may even be found fighting against God!" They were convinced by him,


Gamaliel offers a very interesting bit of direction in this passage. He postulates that the Jesus movement looks like many prior movements and they all failed. Gamaliel, however, leaves the door open. God might be doing something in Jesus. If that is the case, it is not to be resisted, but embraced.

What could Gamaliel be saying to us?

Perhaps, he provides a lens to view our approach to the “New Movement”. If God is part of our mission and ministry, we will know it by how well we meet mission objectives. Growth and health have some role in helping us see the presence of God in the initiative.

I don’t mean this in some limited or fatalistic way. I mean big picture, health and vitality. It is more comprehensive than how we might feel as individuals. It is based more in an objective dimension.

The Gospel is about calling people into relationship with God. We help others recognize God’s love is present for the taking and sharing. We are the community charged with this message. On some level, we know it is working and the Spirit is in our midst, when others are responding.

What would it mean for us to apply “Gamaliel’s gauge” to our individual lives, the life of the parish and the state of the Church?