{Gamaliel} (Gamali(886c)). The grandson of Hillel, teacher of
Paul ( Ac 22:3 ), later president of the Sanhedrin, and the first
of the seven rabbis termed "Rabban." It is held by some that he
was one of the doctors who heard the Boy Jesus in the temple ( Lu
2:47 ) and that he was a secret disciple like Joseph of Arimathea
and Nicodemus, but there is no evidence of either position.
Besides, he appears here as a loyal Pharisee and "a doctor of the
law" (
omodidaskalos). This word appears already in  Lu 5:17 
of the Pharisaic doctors bent on criticizing Jesus, which see.
Paul uses it of Judaizing Christians ( 1Ti 1:7 ). Like other
great rabbis he had a great saying: "Procure thyself a teacher,
avoid being in doubt; and do not accustom thyself to give tithes
by guess." He was a man of judicial temper and not prone to go
off at a tangent, though his brilliant young pupil Saul went to
the limit about Stephen without any restraint on the part of
Gamaliel so far as the record goes. Gamaliel champions the cause
of the apostles as a Pharisee to score a point against the
Sadducees. He acts as a theological opportunist, not as a
disciple of Christ. He felt that a temporizing policy was best.
There are difficulties in this speech of Gamaliel and it is not
clear how Luke obtained the data for the address. It is, of
course, possible that Saul was present and made notes of it for
Luke afterwards. {Had in honour of all the people} (	imios panti
t(9369) la(9369)). Ethical dative. Timios from 	im(885c), old word
meaning precious, dear. {The men} (	ous anthr(9370)ous). Correct
text as in verse  35 , not "the apostles" as Textus Receptus.