Note 2 at Ac 5:39: This counsel from Gamaliel was true in this instance and definitely worked to the apostles' advantage, but it is not a truth that is applicable in all situations.

First, not every purpose that is not of God fails. Ultimately, everything that is not of God will be destroyed at His coming, but until then, many ungodly causes prosper. In direct opposition to Gamaliel's advice, the Lord gave commands to His ministers to counter errors in His church (Tit 1:11; Re 2:14-15, and 20).

Second, not every cause of God succeeds. Ultimately, God's desire will prevail, but at the present, many things are happening outside of God's will. It is not God's will that anyone should perish (2Pe 3:9), but people are perishing since God has given us the freedom of choice (De 30:19). It is God's will for people to be healed (Isa 53:5, Mt 8:17, 1Pe 2:24, and 3Jo 2), but not everyone gets healed. God hates the murdering of children, yet millions of unborn children are being killed every year.

We cannot adopt the attitude that Gamaliel put forth here to simply be passive and believe that those things that are not of God will fail. We have to stand up for what is right and oppose what is wrong.