Riverwind

I have always heard that the Gamaliel of Acts is the same one as found in the Mishnah, Tosefta, and Talmudim. Is this based on anything other than speculation? Is there anything that makes it likely or unlikely? Also, it appears that there may have been two Gamaliels, a Gamaliel and a Gamaliel The Elder, is this correct? Which one is more likely to have been the Gamaliel of Acts (if either).

A little background:

Have some favorite Gamaliel quotes, post 'em here.

Riverwind

Bump...Surely someone in these threads knows about this stuff. Any "scholars" of Jewish works in here? I thought there were a few...

DCHindley

According to Neusner's Dictionary of Ancient Rabbis (or via: amazon.co.uk) (Hendrickson, 2003, which reprints articles about the sages from the first edition of _The Jewish Encyclopaedia_ 1901-1906) there were 6 Gamaliels.

Gamaliel I was the man Acts claims defended the early Christians. His grandson, Gamaliel II, was likely the first patriarch at Jabneh to be designated "nasi" (prince), with the Jewish patriarchy becoming dynastic. Apparently the family was in the habit of naming a son Gamaliel every other generation or so. The last Gamaliel (VI) was deposed for being a bit too willing to advance Jewish interests in the face of imperial restrictions, and was deposed in 415 CE.

DH

Toto

Gamaliel I

Gamaliel II

etc.

Riverwind

Thanks!

yalla

From Toto's link:

The title "Rabban," which, in the learned hierarchy until post-Hadrianic times, was borne only by presidents of the highest religious council, was. first prefixed to the name of Gamaliel.

it is nevertheless a fact beyond all doubt that in the second third of the first century Gamaliel

So, starting sometime in the period 33-66CE, or later, Gamaliel 1 was the first person to be given the title "Rabban", which I believe was a forerunner to the title 'rabbi'.
Where does that leave author"Mark's" description of JC as "rabbi'' allegedly before the 2nd third of the 1st C ?
Does it mean JC was "president of the highest religious council"?

andrewcriddle

Gamaliel I is called in Rabbinic sources such as the Mishnah Gamaliel the Elder to distinguish him from his grandson Gamaliel II

.I found three rulings attributed specifically to Gamaliel the Elder in the Mishnah but was unable to find any additional material in the Tosefta

In Gittin 4:3 Gamaliel the Elder changes the procedure by which a woman compelled her husband's heirs to pay her her marriage portion out of the estate. The change seems to make the procedure a little more difficult for the woman.

In Orlah 2:11-2:12 Gamaliel the Elder rules that very small quantities of leaven do not change the ritual purity of food.

In Yebamot 16:7 Gamaliel the Elder declares that a single witness suffices to declare a man dead so as to allow his wife to remarry.

All three rulings appear to be regarded as a valid statement of the law by the editors/compilers of the Mishnah.

Andrew Criddle

Elijah

Don't have anything to offer in the way of biblical criticism of Gamaliel, but I really liked how he freed the apostles in acts 5:35. If they aren't doing god's work then they will be forgotten and their followers will be scattered and if they are doing god's will you can't stop them any way. Very pimp and prophetic.