The speech of in Acts 5.34-40 is an important turning point in Luke's account. While the members of the , exasperated by Peter's words, are considering putting the apostles to death (Acts 5.33), a respected man intervenes to prevent an irreversible decision.
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A particularly influential figure
Luke specifies that is a Pharisee, a teacher of the Law, held in honor by all the people (Acts 5.34). He is very probably the Elder, grandson of the famous Hillel and teacher of Paul before his conversion (Acts 22.3).
Unlike the , who then dominate the priesthood, the believe in the resurrection, in angels and in the spiritual world (Acts 23.8). does not seem to have become a disciple of Jesus, but his more moderate position contrasts with the hostility of the .
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A call for caution
first asks that the apostles be taken out of the council (Acts 5.34). He then urges his colleagues to reflect before acting:
“Take care what you are about to do with these men” (Acts 5.35).
His reasoning is essentially pragmatic. He does not try to show that the apostles are right, but that it is dangerous to fight a movement whose origin is not yet clearly established.
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The examples of Theudas and Judas the Galilean
recalls two movements that disappeared after the death of their leaders:
- Theudas, who had gathered about four hundred men (Acts 5.36);
- Judas the Galilean, who had revolted at the time of the census and whose followers had been scattered (Acts 5.37).
The second figure is well known from the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus. Judas the Galilean led a revolt against the census organized under Quirinius around AD 6. His movement gave birth to the Zealot current.
The mention of Theudas poses a chronological difficulty, since the historian Josephus places another Theudas under the procurator Cuspius Fadus, around AD 44-46. Several explanations have been proposed:
- it could be a different person bearing the same name;
- Josephus and Luke could be referring to different events;
- Josephus probably did not record all the agitators of this period.
This difficulty does not necessarily call into question the reliability of Luke's account.
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A principle based on the sovereignty of God
concludes:
“If this undertaking or this work is of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow it; do not run the risk of having fought against God” (Acts 5.38-39).
This reflection recalls certain principles of the Old Testament, according to which God overturns human plans and infallibly accomplishes his purposes (Psalms 33.10-11; Proverbs 19.21; Isaiah 46.10).
It is remarkable that a Pharisee invites the to consider the possibility that God is at work in this movement they are trying to destroy.
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An insufficient human wisdom
The reasoning of is marked by prudence, but it remains incomplete. He does not take a position on the person of Jesus or on the reality of his resurrection. He advocates a wait-and-see attitude rather than faith.
Yet in Acts, God does not simply call people to wait and see, but to repent and believe in Christ (Acts 2.38; Acts 3.19; Acts 4.12).
The neutrality of is therefore preferable to the violence of the , but it falls short of the commitment demanded by the Gospel.
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A providential intervention
The members of the finally follow his advice. The apostles escape the death penalty, but they are beaten and again receive the order not to speak any more in the name of Jesus (Acts 5.40).
Without knowing it, thus becomes an instrument of divine providence. His intervention allows the apostolic mission to continue and prepares the expansion of the Church.
Conclusion
The speech of illustrates the irony so frequent in the book of Acts. A respected Jewish teacher, who is not presented as a disciple of Jesus, involuntarily contributes to the preservation of those whom his colleagues want to put to death. His warning has remained famous:
“If this work is of God, you will not be able to overthrow it” (Acts 5.39).
The history of the Church would ultimately prove this intuition right. Despite persecutions, oppositions and repeated attempts to make Christianity disappear, the work begun in Jerusalem will continue to develop to the ends of the earth, in keeping with the Lord's promise (Acts 1.8).