Albert Barnes Commentary Acts 5:34

"But there stood up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in honor of all the people, and commanded to put the men forth a little while." — Acts 5:34 (ASV)

Then stood there up one. He rose, as is usual in deliberative assemblies, to speak.

In the council. In the Sanhedrin, Acts 4:15.

A Pharisee. The high priest and those who had been most active in opposing the apostles were Sadducees. The Pharisees were opposed to them particularly on the doctrine concerning which the apostles were so strenuous: the resurrection of the dead. (See Barnes on Matthew 3:7).

Compare Acts 23:6.

Gamaliel. This name was very common among the Jews. Dr. Lightfoot says that this man was the teacher of Paul (Acts 22:3), the son of the Simon who took the Savior in his arms (Luke 2), and the grandson of the famous Hillel. He was known among the Jews by the title of Rabban Gamaliel the elder.

There were other men of this name who were also eminent among the Jews. This man is said to have died eighteen years before the destruction of Jerusalem, and he died as he had lived, a Pharisee.

There is not the least evidence that he was a friend of the Christian religion, but he was evidently a man of far more liberal views than the other members of the Sanhedrin.

A doctor of the law. That is, a teacher of the Jewish law; one whose province it was to interpret the laws of Moses, and probably to preserve and transmit the traditional laws of the Jews. (See Barnes on Matthew 15:3).

So celebrated was he that Saul of Tarsus went to Jerusalem to receive the benefit of his instructions, Acts 22:3.

Had in reputation among all the people. Honored by all the people. His advice was likely, therefore, to be respected.

To put the apostles forth. This was done doubtless because, if the apostles had been allowed to remain, it was feared that they would take fresh courage and be confirmed in their purposes. It was customary, besides, when they deliberated, to command those accused to retire, Acts 4:15.

A little space. A little time, Luke 22:58.