Do Not Be Like These People 4

"Then he said to the council, “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you do with these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared. He claimed that he was important, and about four hundred men joined him. He was killed, and all his followers were scattered. The whole movement was a failure.

“After that man, at the time of the census, Judas from Galilee appeared and led people in a revolt. He, too, died, and all his followers were scattered.

“We should keep away from these men for now. We should leave them alone. I can guarantee that if the plan they put into action is of human origin, it will fail. However, if it’s from God, you won’t be able to stop them. You may even discover that you’re fighting against God."

The council took his advice. They called the apostles, beat them, ordered them not to speak about the one named Jesus, and let them go.

The apostles left the council room. They were happy to have been considered worthy to suffer dishonor for speaking about Jesus. Every day in the temple courtyard and from house to house, they refused to stop teaching and telling the Good News that Jesus is the Messiah." Acts 5:35-‬42

Continuing on this series which is about putting a name or a face to people who we should not be like.

Now in this example, it may not be apparent who we shouldn't be like. Although, re-reading it, one can see that:

1. We shouldn't be like Theudas who sounded like he was one of those who founded a religion on his own or one which Scriptures call a false messiah. And like all false messiahs, their movements all died out.

2. We shouldn't be like Judas of Galilee who sounded like one of those who led his group into the slaughterhouse, where they all perished for nothing.

3. We shouldn't be like the members of the Jewish council who with all their expertise about God, found themselves fighting against the God they were supposed to be fighting for.

Gamaliel was the one speaking in the narrative above, his line of thinking was such that if they let the followers of Jesus alone, their movement will die eventually because it was purely of human origin. But if their movement was of God, then whatever they do, they cannot stop it from spreading.

Gamaliel was a respected member of the Jewish council, a leader of their community, a master of Hebrew Scriptures and was apostle Paul's teacher.

And last but not the least...

4. We shouldn't be like lukewarm followers of Jesus, if you are a Christian. For if you believe in Him then you should be like those early believers who shared the gospel of Jesus to people who have not heard of it, so everyone would have an opportunity to decide for themselves to believe or not.

Don't Be Like Them Series