GAMALIEL ("God is my rewarder"): A celebrated rabbi of the first century. There were at least two noted leaders of this name, the one mentioned Acts v. 34 being generally called the Elder or Gamaliel I. to distinguish him from his grandson. According to Acts xxii. 3 he was the teacher of Paul. In Jewish literature he is known as the ancestor of the later Jewish patriarchs (ethnarchs) of Palestine. The family claimed descent from Benjamin and even from David. That Hillel the Great was Gamaliel's grandfather is claimed, but is not certain. Jewish tradition speaks of Gamaliel as president of the Sanhedrin, but these statements refer generally to Gamaliel II. A few practical enactments are ascribed to him. Thus he decided (Mishnah, Gitlin iv. 2) that in the letter of divorce the formula "and every name which he (she) has" be added to the name of the husband and the wife, thus precluding the possibility of invalidating a letter of divorce in case one had different names. In the interest of orphans he introduced the custom that the widow state under oath that she had thus far received nothing, before taking her dowry from the estate (Gittin iv. 6). He considered the evidence of one witness of the death of a husband as sufficient to allow the widow to marry again (Yebamot xvi. 7). That he became a Christian as the Clem entine Recognitions (i. 65) state is an invention. He died probably before the year 70, for his son Simeon played an important part during the rebellion, whereas Gamaliel is mentioned no more.

(G. Dalman.)

Bibliography: C. D. Ginsburg, in Mtto, Cgclopaedia of Biblical Literature, ii. 60-61, Edinburgh, 1864 (gives rabbinical references); J. Derenbourg, L'Hist. et la gtographie de la Palestine, i. 239-246, Paris, 1867; H. Gritz, Geschichte der Juden, iii. 373 sqq., Leipsic, 1878; F. W. Farrar, Paul, vol. i., excursus v., London, 1879; J. Hamburger, RealEneyklop4die für Babel and Talmud, ii. 236-237, Strelitz, 1883; M. Bloch, Inatitutionen des Judentuma, IL, i. 118202, BrUnn, 1884; M. Brauneehweiger, Die Lehrer der Miachnah, pp. 50 sqq.; Frankfort, 1890; Schürer, Geschichte and Eng. transl., consult Indexes; DR, ii. 106; EB, ii. 1638-39; JE, v. 558-560.