Gamaliel: Reward of God.1. A chief of the tribe of Manasseh at the census at Sinai
(Numbers 1:10; 2:20; 7:54,59)
2. The son of rabbi Simeon, and grandson of the famous rabbi
Hillel. He was a Pharisse, and therefore the opponent of the
party of the Sadducees. He was noted for his learning, and was
president of the Sanhedrim during the regins of Tiberius,
Caligula, and Claudius, and died, it is said, about eighteen
years before the destruction of Jerusalem. When the apostles
were brought before the council, charged with preaching the
resurrection of Jesus, as a zealous Pharisee Gamaliel councelled
moderation and calmness. By a reference to well-known events, he
advised them to "refrain from these men." If their work or
counsel was of man, it would come to nothing; but if it was of
God, they could not destroy it, and therefore ought to be on
their guard lest they should be "found fighting against God"
(Acts 5:34-40) Paul was one of his disciples
(Acts 22:3)
