The Rabbi Gamaliel, teacher of St Paul, was known as a major figure in the more gentle and conciliatory stream of Judaism. The Rabbi speaks here in favour of a tolerant approach to the young Christian community - very unlike his disciple Saul, who persecuted the Christians until he himself was converted and became the Apostle Paul. We see Paul, later on, assuming something of the same approach in his preaching of the Gospel to the Gentiles.

Rabbi Gamaliel speaks words of human wisdom, but there is more here than merely political or diplomatic prudence. The wisdom he enjoys is an essential part of the Old Testament revelation - a wisdom rooted in an understanding of God's spirit of mercy, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy" (Mt.5:7). This brings about tolerance, conciliation, gentleness, understanding, and concern. Indeed, in Jesus' miracle of the loaves and fishes we see the concrete manifestation of God's gentle care and providential concern for us.