²² Reuben further said to them, “Shed no blood. Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but do not lay hands on him”—that he might rescue him out of their hands, to restore him to his father.

²⁶ Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it for us to kill our brother and ^(A)cover up his blood? ^27 (B)Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him.

³⁴ But a Pharisee named ^(A)Gamaliel, a ^(B)teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in ^(C)the Council and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time. ³⁵ And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men. ³⁶ For some time ago Theudas rose up, ^(D)claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined up with him. ^[a]But he was killed, and all who ^[b]followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. ³⁷ After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of ^(E)the census and drew away some people after him; he too perished, and all those who ^[c]followed him were scattered. ³⁸ So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or ^[d]action ^(F)is of men, it will be overthrown; ³⁹ but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found ^(G)fighting against God.”