The life and work of St. Paul

62 THE LIFE AND WORE 0? ST, FAtftt
died a Pharisee. Nor, again, is there the least ground for Schrader's indignation
against his supposed assertion of the principle that the success of a
religion is a sufficient test of its truth. We must remember that only the
briefest outline of his speech is given, and all that Gamaliel seems to have
'
meant was this Let these men alone at present. As far as we can see, they
are only the victims of a harmless delusion. There is nothing seditious in
their practice, nothing subversive in their doctrines. Even if there were we
should have nothing to fear from them, and no need to adopt violent measures
of precaution. Fanaticism and imposture are short-lived, even when backed
by popular insurrection but in the views of these men ;
there may be something
more than at present appears. Some germ of truth, some gleam of
revelation, may inspire their singular enthusiasm, and to fight against this
may be to fight against God.' Gamaliel's plea was not so much a plea for
systematic tolerance as for temporary caution.1 The day of open rupture
between Judaism and Christianity was indeed very near at hand, but it had
not yet arrived. His advice is neither due to the quiescence of Pharisaic
fatalism, nor to a '
fallacious laisser aller view of the matter, which serves to
show how low the Jews had sunk in theology and political sagacity if such
was the counsel of their wisest.' s There was time, Gamaliel thought, to wait
and watch the development of this new fraternity. To interfere with it
might only lead to a needless embroilment between the people and the
Sanhedrin. A little patience would save trouble, and indicate the course
which should be pursued. Gamaliel was sufficiently clear-sighted to have
observed that the fire of a foolish fanaticism dies out if it be neglected, and
is only kindled into fury by premature opposition. Let those who venture to
arraign the principle of the wise Rabbi remember that it is practically
identical with the utterance of Christ, "Every plant, which my heavenly
Father planted not, shall be 3
plucked up by the roots."
The advice was too sound, and the authority of the speaker too weighty,
to be altogether rejected. The Priests and Rabbis, tortured already with
guilty anxiety as to the consequences of their judicial murder, renewed their
futile command to the Apostles to preach no more in the name of Jesus, and
scourging them for disobedience to their former injunctions, let them go.
'Neither in public nor in private did the Apostles relax their exertions. The
.gatherings still continued in Solomon's porch ; the agapce were still held in
the houses of the brethren. So far from being intimidated, the two Apostles
only rejoiced that they were counted worthy of the honour of being dishonoured
for the name of Him on whom they believed.
1 Too much has, perhaps, been made of the Uar j5 j avOpurruv as contrasted with
elSi CK eov ecrw. w. 38, 89; of. Gal. i. 8, 9 (Beng. iv si fit, conditionaliter ; 9mv
j$
si est, categorice) as though Gamaliel leaned to the latter view " wornach der gesetzte
zweitt Fall als der dem Gamaliel wahrscheinlichere erscheint" (Meyer). It merely
mean* '
'
If it should be from men, as results will show,' and, if, a caw which I at
present suppose, from God.' (See Winer.)
3
Alford, following Schroder, Der Apostel Paulus.
9 See Matt. xv. 13. It was in this sense that Luther urged the advice of Gamaliel
mpon the Elector of Trevei,