II. GAMALIEL, Doctor of the Law, by sect a Pharisee, was St. Paul’s master, as likewise St. Barnabas’s and St. Stephen’s, if some writers are to be believed. Shortly after the descent of the Holy Ghost, which happened on the day of Pentecost, the Jews desiring the death of St. Peter, whom they had brought before the assembly of their Priests, Gamaliel required that the Apostles should retire for some time: this being done, he spake to the Assembly in these terms: Take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody, to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain, and all as many as obeyed him were scattered and brought to nought. After this man rose up Judas of Galilee, in the days of the taxing, (under Quirinius) and drew away much people after him: he also perished, and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. And now I say unto you, refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found Vide Lucian. de Sancto Stephano, c. 5, ad finem t. x. Oper. S. Aug. nov. edit.even to fight against God. Gamaliel’s advice was followed, and the Apostles were set at liberty.
After the death of St. Stephen, Gamaliel encouraged the Christians to go by night and carry off his body, and lent them his chariot to go and bury it in the lands belonging to himself, at seven or eight leagues distance from Jerusalem, In the year of J. C. 37, of the Vulgar Æra 34. Phot. Cod. 171. Lucian. de Sancto Stephano.which from him were called Caphar Gamala, Gamala’s or Gamaliel’s field. It is said, that Nicodemus was Gamaliel’s nephew or cousin; and that in consideration of the latter, the Jews, instead of putting Nicodemus to death, were content only with banishing him. It is not doubted, but that Gamaliel embraced the faith of Jesus Christ: but at what time he was converted, or by whom he was baptized, no one knows. He had two sons, one, whose name was Abibas, who was baptized with his father; the other called Sedemias, or Selemias, who refused to embrace Christianity . They did not long survive their baptism, and were buried in the same cave, dug within a rock, where Stephen’s body had been laid, but in different coffins. The circumstances which we have here related of Gamaliel’s life, are for the most part to be met with in the history written by Lucian, concerning the discovery of St. Stephen’s body, and printed in St. Austin’s works of the new edition, at the end of the tenth tome .
Some have believed Gamaliel, who is mentioned in the Acts, to be the same with Gamaliel of Japhneh or Dibanah, who, according to the Jewish Doctors, succeeded Jochanan in the dignity of Patriarch of the See Basnage hist. des Juifs, t. 2. l. 4. c. 3. art. 11.West. It had been concerted to kill Gamaliel, together with his father, after the taking of Jerusalem; but Titus, at the instance of Jochanan, gave him his life. He escaped a second time, when Turnus Rufus plowed up the very spot on which the Temple stood. His severity was so great, that they were obliged to set bounds to his authority: some maintain that he was even deposed from his office; but others affirm, his authority to have been so great, that not only the Jews over the whole universe, but even foreign Kings allowed the execution of it, without there being so much as one who opposed it.
Samuel the less was living at that time, and he it was who composed the prayer against hereticks, which has been ever since recited solemnly in the synagogues. They beg of God, that there may be no hope for apostates; that all hereticks may perish by a sudden death; that the reign of pride may be in our days interrupted and destroyed. Blessed be thou, O Lord God, who destroyest the wicked, and humblest the proud. Some have imagined this Samuel the less to be the same with St. Paul. They have made Saul of Samuel by taking away the Mem. The Greek, Gaulos, signifies small. Saul or Paul Samuel.was Contemporary with, and Disciple to Gamaliel.
The time wherein they lived is not absolutely inconsistent with what Saint Luke relates of Gamaliel. He gave his opinion in the assemby of the Priests in the 32d year of the Vulgar Æra. He was witness to the taking of Jerusalem in the 70th year of the Vulgar Æra. In some short time afterwards he might have succeeded Jochanan in the dignity of Patriarch of his Nation. There is more difficulty with relation to Samuel the less, whom they will have to be the same with St. Paul. The Jewish authors suppose that he died in the profession of Judaism; and we know that St. Paul became an early convert to Christianity. The prayer which is ascribed to Samuel the less, is almost all against the Christians, and it appears that he was in great authority, when he composed it; whereas St. Paul was very young when he embraced Christianity.