Acts 5:34

“This Gamaliel was Paul's teacher. And one may well wonder, how, being so right-minded in his judgment, and withal learned in the law, he did not yet believe. But it cannot be that he should have continued in unbelief to the end. Indeed it appears plainly from the words he here speaks. He "commanded," it says, "to put the men forth a little space and said unto them." Observe how judiciously he frames his speech, and how he immediately at the very outset puts them in fear. And that he may not be suspected of taking their part, he addresses them as if he and they were of the same opinion, and does not use much vehemence, but as speaking to men intoxicated through passion, he thus expresses himself.”

“"But one in the council rising up, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, said. "Gamaliel, whom the apostle Paul also praises, spoke publicly to persuade them that they should desist from persecuting the apostles, saying: "If their preaching be from men, it will undoubtedly fail, as did that of Theodas and of Judas of Galilee; if, on the other hand, it be from God, it cannot possibly be destroyed by any power." Then they scourged the apostles and let them go, charging them that they should no longer be involved in such preachings; but they kept preaching the word to the nations. Meanwhile, there arose a murmuring of the Greeks, saying that their widows were treated with despicable contempt in the daily ministration. Because of this matter, seven chosen men were appointed as deacons so that they should manage matters of this sort with moderate authority, while the apostles should devote themselves only to preaching. This office was also consecrated on them by the imposition of hands. A multitude of the priests, too, hastened at that time to obey the Lord.”

“Then stood up one in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, etc. Of this Gamaliel, we read in the book of Saint Clement, that he was secretly a disciple of the apostles, but by their counsel, he was commanded to remain among the Jews to mitigate their fury where necessity required; but this has been most certainly made known today as a true account through the revelation of the relics of the most blessed protomartyr Stephen, which was made widely known to the Church of Christ through the divine dispensation by the same man. For he appeared in a vision to the holy servant of God and priest Lucian, as the same priest Lucian later wrote to all the Churches; and he taught most sweetly where Saint Stephen was buried, along with Nicodemus, who buried the Lord with Joseph, as well as Gamaliel himself with his son Abibam.”

“As for Gamaliel, he was the teacher of Paul; and it is worthy of wonder how he, being a teacher of the law and a man of discerning mind, had not yet believed up to this point. This is because Paul had not yet believed either. Pay attention to the wise adaptability of the speech — to how Gamaliel immediately struck them with fear, and so as not to give the suspicion that he shared the views of the apostles, he converses with the Jews as with people of the same convictions and does not express himself particularly harshly, but says: "consider… what you intend to do with them."”

“Then stood up . . . Gamaliel--in all probability one of that name celebrated in the Jewish writings for his wisdom, the son of Simeon (possibly the same who took the infant Saviour in his arms, Luk 2:25-35), and grandson of HILLEL, another celebrated rabbi. He died eighteen years before the destruction of Jerusalem [LIGHTFOOT].”

“This Gamaliel was the teacher of Paul. (see Acts 22:3) That a teacher who was respected for his legal judgments should not believe this, even if not entirely understanding it, is extreme folly. And from his words themselves, which differed also in understanding, he shows sufficient evidence. And it is also evident from those very actions. For ordering the apostles to be expelled from the council, in order to intimidate them, he even made the innocent appear to himself, not as one pardoned by shared opinion, but as making excuses for their words.”