{To him they agreed} (epeisth(8873)an aut(9369)). First aorist
passive indicative of peith(935c), to persuade, the passive to be
persuaded by, to listen to, to obey. Gamaliel's shrewd advice
scored as against the Sadducaic contention (verse  17 ). {Not to
speak} (m(8820)lalein). The Sanhedrin repeated the prohibition of
 4:18  which the apostles had steadily refused to obey. The
Sanhedrin stood by their guns, but refused to shoot. It was a
"draw" with Gamaliel as tactical victor over the Sadducees.
Clearly now the disciples were set free because only the
Sadducees had become enraged while the Pharisees held aloof.