Acts 5:38 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

And now I say unto you; he undertakes to advise them what they should do in the present case. Refrain from these men; have nothing to do with them, as Pilate's wife advised him concerning our Saviour, Matthew 27:19. Gamaliel interposes, partly out of his moderate and mild disposition; partly out of fear, lest if they slew the apostles they might incense the Romans, who were very jealous of their authority, and had taken away the power of capital punishments from the Jews. For if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought; this argument, or dilemma, which Gamaliel uses for the sparing of the apostles, is of force either way; as that question our Saviour propounds concerning the baptism of John, Matthew 21:25. This first part is evident, for that building must needs fall which is built upon the sand, Matthew 7:27.