Gamaliel, in retrospect

Gamaliel comes across in Christian literature as the mentor of Saul of Tarsus, even as a convert alongside him. The Copts were particularly prone to this. Much derives from Saint Luke's book of Acts, itself (I think) from now-lost early Christian writings. Which writings Luke had taken by faith.

Elsewhere in the first-to-second centuries' Judaism, we rarely find contemporary attestation of any rabbi, whose fame (or infamy) later Jews would remember. In such Jewish literature, Gamaliel is typical. In Christendom Luke will note our man in Acts; but nowhere names him in his Gospel.

We do have considerable attestation of first-century Judaean politics, at least. Roman-ruled Judaea hosted a Sanhedrin of Jews from various factions who met to arrange Jewish orthodoxy. The Sadducees from the Temple dominated this synod. To the extent Pharisees contributed to Sanhedrin, which I concede 30s AD Judaean politics could have forced; the Sadducees preferred Shammai's party.

I propose that Gamaliel did exist in the 30s-50s AD; but that he was on the outs, like the Essenes... and like the Christians. It was later, after the Ninth Of Av, that Gamaliel's successors raised his profile. Luke was among those who heard of Gamaliel.

Not so sure about Paul.

UPDATE 7/13: Luke's Quellenfrage belong in a Luke essay. The core of it was commented on 7/11 anyway... elsewhere.