Acts 5:35

35 And he said to them, Ye men of Israel, take attention to yourselves on these men, what ye shall do.

Acts 5:35 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 5:35

And said unto them, ye men of Israel
This he said after the apostles were put out, when the council was by themselves; and he addressed them as "men of Israel"; not as distinct from the priests and Levites in the council, but because they were all of the stock of Israel; for this council did not consist of Israelites only, as distinct from priests and Levites, as appears from ( Acts 5:21 Acts 5:27 ) . A sanhedrim commonly consisted of each of these; though if only of Israelites it was a lawful one. Maimonides says ^F3,

``they did not use to appoint any in the sanhedrim, but priests, Levites, and Israelites, that were genealogized and fit to be married into the priesthood---and that it was a command, that in the great sanhedrim there should be priests and Levites; as it is said, "thou shalt go to the priests and Levites"; but if they are not found, if they are all Israelites, lo, this is lawful,''

or a proper sanhedrim. His speech to them follows,

take heed to yourselves;
consider well, do not act a rash and precipitant part; do not give way to passion and wrath, and hastily lay hands on these men, and destroy them; lest ye bring yourselves into disgrace and danger, and bring upon yourselves the ill-will and resentment of men, and the wrath of God: take time to consider of the matter, and deliberately consult

what ye intend to do as touching these men;
what punishment to inflict upon them, whether imprisonment, scourging, or death; do nothing rashly.

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FOOTNOTES:

F3 Hilchot Sanhedrin, c. 2. sect. 1. 2.

Acts 5:35 In-Context

33 When they heard these things, they were tormented, and thought to slay them.

34 But a man rose in the council, a Pharisee, Gamaliel by name, a doctor of the law, an honourable man to all the people [a worshipful man to all the people], and commanded the men to be put withoutforth for a while [to a short time].

35 And he said to them, Ye men of Israel, take attention to yourselves on these men, what ye shall do.

36 For before these days Theudas, that said himself to be some man [For before these days Theudas was, saying himself to be some man], to whom a number of men consented, about four hundred; which was slain, and all that believed to him [and all whoever believed to him], were scattered, and brought to nought.

37 After this, Judas of Galilee was in the days of profession, and turned away the people after him; and all how many ever consented to him, were scattered, and he perished.