The historical setting to Acts 5:34-39 was about a counsel that was conducted against the disciples for preaching Jesus. In the midst of the accusations, a wise Jewish leader named Gamaliel told the rest of the Council that if God was with them, they should not proceed further in their persecution. He reminded them of other men that were problematic such as Theudas who boasted himself to be a somebody. Even though he drew many people after his cause, he and some of his followers perished or were dispersed. This leads to the question we need to ask ourselves. Are you a somebody?
Gamaliel’s advice to leave the disciples alone mirrors what Jesus said that we should be separate from the world. Since the world will come to naught, and is anti-God, all Christians should do their best to avoid interaction with the world. To be a somebody means to be of God. That person enjoys the daily life of living in the realm of Christ. That person recognizes and believes in the promises of God.
In addition, this Jewish leader said that the disciples could not be overthrown if they were of God. This is akin to the songs we sing such as “Victory in Jesus” and “Victory” and “Onward, Christian soldiers.” The cause believers represent is not of or in themselves. It is the standard of God. It is God’s plan. It is God’s intent. It is God’s success. It is God’s infallibility. Because of who God is, the believer as a spiritual somebody depends on God because their battles are God’s battles.
Not only does this text cause us to ask ourselves if we are a somebody, it reminds us that we stand before a Council much bigger than what the disciples had to do. We stand before the Council of the world. We stand before kings, political leaders, false prophets, and all those who favor a life that is outside of God’s blessing. We have a right to boast, but that boast is about Jesus and not about ourselves. In contrast, the person who is not a somebody has a transparent character, shallow personality, and overworked vocal cords if they want people to believe they are spiritual. They have a false concern for the lost because their moment of highlighting others’ lostness is quickly forgotten.
Since the world is our counsel, our stage, it is up to us to project the substance of being a somebody. It is up to us to have boiling within ourselves the love of God. We cannot strive to be a somebody. We become one by our devotion to God and his service. A somebody is a person who has worth and value to the rest of the world. A somebody is more concerned about God than himself and desires to be used by God. We cannot strive to have the title of a somebody. However, we can strive to accomplish the steps that eventually lead to that precious title. Being a somebody is not about getting other people around you for your own recognition or purposes. It is about your devotion to God.
Christian Writer 