(a) How did God use Gamaliel to further the cause of Christianity in the early church ? (b) Mention any four types of opposition that are confronting the Ch...

Answer Details

(a) How God used Gamaliel to further the cause of Christianity (Acts 5:33-42)

After the apostles were arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin for continuing to preach in the name of Jesus, they boldly declared, "We ought to obey God rather than men." The council was furious and plotted to kill them. At that point Gamaliel, a Pharisee and a doctor of the law held in honour by all the people (and Paul's own teacher), stood up and ordered the apostles put outside for a while.

He advised the council to be careful in dealing with these men. He reminded them of two earlier movements: Theudas, who claimed to be somebody and gathered about four hundred men, but who was killed and his followers scattered to nothing; and Judas of Galilee, who also drew people after him in the days of the census, but who perished and his followers were dispersed. Drawing his conclusion, Gamaliel counselled, "Keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it, lest you even be found to fight against God."

The council was persuaded. They called the apostles, beat them, commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them. Thus God used Gamaliel's wise and moderate counsel to spare the apostles' lives, so that they continued daily in the temple and in every house teaching and preaching Jesus, and Christianity spread.

(b) Four types of opposition confronting the church today

1. Persecution and violence: attacks on Christians, destruction of churches, and hostility in some societies.
2. False teaching and heresy: cults, false prophets, and distortions of the gospel that mislead believers.
3. Secularism, materialism and immorality: worldly values, love of money, and moral decay that draw people away from faith.
4. Government or legal restrictions and hostile ideologies: anti-religious laws, atheism and other ideologies that oppose or limit Christian worship and evangelism; internal division and denominational rivalry also weaken the church.