What rabbi was educated in the New Testament?

Answer 1

Gamaliel

Since the word rabbi means "teacher" in Hebrew, one might reasonably say every rabbi was educated or learned! :)

In particular, however, we find that Gamaliel was an educated rabbi who taught St. Paul about the Jewish faith and traditions. St. Paul recounts "I am a Jew, bornin Tarsus in Cilicia, butbrought up in this city. At thefeet of Gamaliel I waseducated strictly in our ancestrallaw and was zealous forGod, just as all of you aretoday." Acts 22:3 NAB

Earlier in The Book of Acts we see that Gamaliel was referred to as a Pharisee, a group of Jewish scholars who were well-educated in the Law. When Gamaliel heard the other Pharisees wanted to put Peter and the other apostles to death, he offered a well-reasoned and patient approach to their teaching concerning Jesus. Namely, if the teachings of Peter and the apostles were not from God, then their teachings about Jesus would fade away. If, however, their teachings about Jesus were from God, he warned the other Pharisees that struggling against Peter and the apostles would be tantamount to struggling against God:

But a Pharisee in the Sanhedrinnamed Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, respected by all thepeople, stood up, orderedthe men to be put outside for a short time, and said to them, "Fellow Israelites, be carefulwhat you are about to do to these men. Sometime ago, Theudasappeared, claiming to be someoneimportant, and about four hundredmen joined him, but he was killed, and all those who were loyal to him weredisbanded and came to nothing. After him came Judas the Galilean at the time of the census. He alsodrew people after him, but he tooperished and all who were loyal to him were scattered. So now I tell you, have nothing to do with these men, and let themgo. For if this endeavor or thisactivity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comesfrom God, you will not be ableto destroy them; you may evenfind yourselves fighting againstGod." They were persuaded by him. Acts 5:34-39 NAB

Nicodemus

Another important learned Jewish scholar was the Pharisee Nicodemus, who was truly interested in who Jesus was and what he was teaching. Because he was afraid of the other Pharisees finding out he was interested in Jesus, he approached Jesus under the cover of night. (cf. Jn 3:2). His discussion with Jesus was particularly relevant, as some of the origins of the Sacrament of Baptism are revealed here; i.e. Jesus answered, "Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit." Jn 3:5 NAB