View source for Gamaliel

St. '''Gamaliel''', also '''Gamaliel the Elder''' or or Rabbi '''Gamaliel I''' (Hebrew: ל הזקן; Greek: Γαμαλιήλ ο Πρεσβύτερος) was a [[Pharisee]] who was a leading authority in the Sanhedrin, a doctor of the Law (Acts 5:34-40), and the teacher of St [[Apostle Paul|Paul]] (Acts 22:3). The translation of his relics is observed on [[August 2]].

==Life==
He was the grandson of the great Jewish teacher [[w:Hillel the Elder|Hillel the Elder]], and died twenty years before the destruction of the [[w:Second Temple|Second Temple]] in Jerusalem (70 A.D.). He fathered a son, whom he called [[w:Simeon ben Gamliel|Simeon]],<ref>Solomon Schechter and Wilhelm Bacher. ''[http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=51&letter=G Gamliel I].'' The Jewish Encyclopedia.</ref> after his father, and a daughter, whose daughter (''i.e.,'' Gamaliel's granddaughter) married a priest named Simon ben Nathanael.<ref>''[[w:Abodah Zarah|'Abodah Zarah]]'' 3:10.</ref> In the Talmud, this Gamaliel bears, like his grandfather Hillel, the surname of "the Elder", and is the first to whom the title "Rabban", "our master", was given. He appears therein, as in the book of the Acts, as a prominent member of the highest tribunal of the Jews, and is also treated as the originator of many legal ordinances.<ref>Gigot, Francis. ''"[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06374b.htm Gamaliel]."'' The Catholic Encyclopedia (New Advent). Vol. 6. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909.</ref> The name Gamaliel is the Greek form of the Hebrew name meaning ''reward of God''.

===Influence on the Apostles===
The [[Acts of the Apostles]] introduces Gamaliel as a [[Pharisee]] and celebrated scholar of the [[w:613 Mitzvot|Mosaic Law]].<ref>Acts 5:34-40.</ref> In this passage, [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] and the other [[Apostles]] are described as being prosecuted by the Sanhedrin for continuing to preach the [[Gospel]], despite the Jewish authorities having previously prohibited it. The passage describes Gamaliel as presenting an argument against killing the apostles, reminding the Sanhedrin about previous revolts, which had been based on beliefs that individuals such as [[w:Theudas|Theudas]] and [[w:Judas of Galilee|Judas of Galilee]] were the prophesied [[messiah]], and which had collapsed quickly after the deaths of those individuals. According to Acts, his authority with his contemporaries was so great that they accepted his advice, regardless of how unwelcome it was. Gamaliel's concluding argument to them had been:
:"if it be of men, it will come to naught, but if it be of God, ye will not be able to overthrow it; lest perhaps ye be found even to fight against God".<ref>Acts 5:39.</ref>

The Book of Acts later goes on to describe [[Apostle Paul|Paul of Tarsus]] recounting that he was "educated at the feet of Gamaliel" about Jewish religious law,<ref>Acts 22:3.</ref> although no details are given about which teachings Paul adopted from Gamaliel, and hence how much Gamaliel influenced aspects of Christianity.<ref group="note">[[w:Helmut Koester|Helmut Koester]], Professor of Divinity and of Ecclesiastical History at Harvard University, is doubtful that Paul studied under this famous rabbi, arguing that there is a marked contrast in the tolerance that Gamaliel is said to have expressed about Christianity, with the [[w:Persecution of early Christians by the Jews|"murderous rage" against Christians]] that Paul is described as having prior to his conversion (Acts 8:1-3).</ref>

===As a Christian===
Ecclesiastical tradition maintains that Gamaliel had embraced the Christian faith and his tolerant attitude toward the Early Christians is explained by this. According to [[Photius the Great]], he was baptized by [[Apostle Peter|Saint Peter]] and [[Apostle John|Saint John]], together with his son, and [[Nicodemus]]. The [[w:Clementine Literature|Clementine Literature]] suggested that he maintained secrecy about the conversion and continued to be a member of the Sanhedrin for the purpose of covertly assisting his fellow Christians.<ref>''[[w:Clementine literature|Recognitions of Clement]]'' 1:65-66.</ref><ref group="note"> The [[Roman Catholic Church]] views him as a Saint and listed him in the [[w:Roman Martyrology|Roman Martyrology]] for August 3. It is said that in the 5th century, by a miracle, his body had been discovered and taken to [[w:Piazza dei Miracoli#Duomo|Pisa Cathedral]] (Catholic Encyclopedia. ''[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06374b.htm Gamaliel]'').</ref><ref group="note">The Jewish account maintains that he remained a Pharisee until his death. Contemporary Jewish records continue to list him first among the Sanhedrin (Cheyne and Black (1903). ''[[w:Encyclopaedia Biblica|Encyclopedia Biblica]].'' New York: Macmillan).</ref>

===Burial of Sts. Stephen, Nicodemus and Abibus===
When the Jews slew St. [[Apostle Stephen the Protomartyr|Stephen]] by stoning, they left his body for the dogs to consume. However, God's Providence intended otherwise. The martyr's body lay in an open place at the foothill of the city for one night and two days. The second night Gamaliel, [[Apostle Paul|Paul]]'s teacher and secretly a [[disciple]] of [[Christ]], came and removed the body and took it to Caphargamala on his estate and there he honorably buried it in a cave. Gamaliel also buried his friend [[Nicodemus the Righteous|Nicodemus]] who died weeping over the grave of Stephen in the same cave. Gamaliel also buried his baptized son Abibus there, and according to his will, was buried there also. Since that time, many centuries passed and no one living knew where the body of St. Stephen was buried.<ref>Bp. [[Nikolai Velimirovic]]. ''[http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/prolog.cgi August 2 - THE FINDING AND THE TRANSLATION OF THE RELICS OF ST. STEPHEN, THE ARCHDEACON AND PROTO-MARTYR].'' The Prologue from Ohrid.</ref>

==Finding of the relics of the Righteous St. Gamaliel==
In the year 415 A.D. however, during the reign of [[John II of Jerusalem|John, the Patriarch of Jerusalem]], Gamaliel appeared three times in a dream to Lucian, the priest at Caphargamala and, at length related everything to him concerning the burial of all four saints, showing him the exact spot of their forgotten graves. He appeared as a tall, venerable man with a long white beard; he was dressed in white clothing which was edged with gold and marked with crosses, and held a gold wand in his hand.

Gamaliel called Fr. Lucian by name three times, then told him to go to Jerusalem and inform Bishop John to open the tomb where his relics and those of other three saints were resting. The priest asked the stranger who he was. ''"I am Gamaliel, who instructed the [[Apostle Paul]] in the Law,"'' he replied. Then he told the priest where to find the relics of St. [[Apostle Stephen the Protomartyr|Stephen]]. He also revealed that he had taken St Stephen's body and laid it in his own tomb after it had been lying exposed for a day and a night. St. Gamaliel also mentioned that St [[Nicodemus the Righteous|Nicodemus]] was buried at the same spot. ''"I received him into my house in the country,"'' he said, ''"and maintained him there until the end of his life. After his death, I buried him honorably near Stephen."'' St. Gamaliel informed the priest that he and his twenty-year-old son Abibas were also buried there. 

Fr. Lucian was afraid to believe this vision right away, lest it be a temptation from the Evil One. However, when St. Gamaliel appeared again and commanded him to obey his instructions, he did so. A monk named Migetius also had a vision of St. Gamaliel and told Fr. Lucian to search for the relics in a place called Debatalia. With the patriarch's blessing Fr. Lucian went with a group of men and exhumed the four graves. Gamaliel had already told him in the dream whose grave was which. When the relics were uncovered, a strong sweet-smelling fragrance from the [[relics]] of the saints permeated the entire cave.

The relics of St. Stephen were then solemnly translated to Zion and honorably buried there, and the relics of the remaining three were moved to a hill above the cave and were placed in a church. That day, many healings of the sick occurred by the relics of St. Stephen.

In 428 A.D. the relics of Sts. [[Apostle Stephen the Protomartyr|Stephen]], Gamaliel, Abibas, and [[Nicodemus the Righteous|Nicodemus]] were transferred from Jerusalem to Constantinople and placed in the church of the holy deacon [[Lawrence of Rome|Laurence]].

==Notes==
<references group="note" />

==References== 
<div><references/></div>

==Sources==
* ''[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=102183 Finding of the relics of the Righteous St Gamaliel].'' OCA - Feasts and Saints.
* Bp. [[Nikolai Velimirovic]]. ''[http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/prolog.cgi August 2 - THE FINDING AND THE TRANSLATION OF THE RELICS OF ST. STEPHEN, THE ARCHDEACON AND PROTO-MARTYR].'' The Prologue from Ohrid.
* Solomon Schechter and Wilhelm Bacher. ''[http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=51&letter=G Gamliel I].'' The Jewish Encyclopedia.
* Gigot, Francis. ''"[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06374b.htm Gamaliel]."'' The Catholic Encyclopedia (New Advent). Vol. 6. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909.
* ''[[w:Gamaliel|Gamaliel]].'' Wikipedia.

[[Category:Saints]]
[[Category:Biblical Saints]]
[[Category:Elders]]

[[ro:Gamaliel]]