John Gill Commentary Acts 5:35

"And he said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves as touching these men, what ye are about to do." — Acts 5:35 (ASV)

And said unto them, you 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 5:21Acts 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, "you shall 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 you 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 you 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.