The Relationship of Jewish and Gentile Believers to the Law Between A.D. 30 and 70 in the Scripture

32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him." The results are also cast in parallel terms by Luke: Acts 5:33 But when they heard this, they were cut to the quick and were intending to slay them. 75 7:51 "You stiff-necked people, uncircum– cised in heart and ears, you are forever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your an– cestors used to do. Acts 7:54 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the quick and they began gnashing their teeth at him. The only factor which seems to have prevented the same outcome for Peter which occurred with Stephen is that before Peter's enemies could kill him Gamaliel interjected his advice (5:34-40). His advice, which is included by Luke, plays an important role in how Luke intends Stephen's death to be understood. Gamaliel commented that twice in the past when men who had claimed a cause were killed, their followers were scattered and the movements came to nothing (5:35-38), making it evident that these movements were not of God (5:39). Luke joyously reports that though in the death of Stephen, many believers were scattered to Judea and Samaria (8: 1), "those who had been scattered went about preaching the word" (8: 4). Thus, Gamaliel 's words are used by Luke to confirm the divine approval of the go pel as it spreads through persecution. Thus, the Stephen incident i a ignificant turning point in the me sage of the book of Acts becau e it i the cataly t which ignite the pread f th mes age beyond Jerusalem and into Judea and amaria. It is fir t tated a a general truth that many were cattered and began to preach in Judea and amaria and then Philip' mini tr in amaria i pre ented in chapter eight a a pecifi e ample f th the p r ecution . A t 8 1 ng lizati n timulat d b