²⁵ Even though Elnathan, Delaiah^(A) and Gemariah^(B) urged the king not to burn the scroll, he would not listen to them.

³⁴ But a Pharisee named Gamaliel,^(A) a teacher of the law,^(B) who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. ³⁵ Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. ³⁶ Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. ³⁷ After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census^(C) and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. ³⁸ Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.^{(D) 39} But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”^(E)

¹² he went down to the secretary’s^(A) room in the royal palace, where all the officials were sitting: Elishama the secretary, Delaiah son of Shemaiah, Elnathan^(B) son of Akbor, Gemariah son of Shaphan, Zedekiah son of Hananiah, and all the other officials.^(C)

²² “Don’t shed any blood. Throw him into this cistern^(A) here in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him.” Reuben said this to rescue him from them and take him back to his father.^(B)

²⁴ When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar^(A) was starting, he took water and washed his hands^(B) in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,”^(C) he said. “It is your responsibility!”^(D)

²⁵ All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”^(E)

⁴ “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”

“What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”^(A)

²² King Jehoiakim, however, sent Elnathan^(A) son of Akbor to Egypt, along with some other men.

Threat of Captivity