The Greek verb dialyō (διαλύω) means to dissolve, to disperse, or to break up — to undo a unity by separating its parts. It appears in Acts 5:36 where Gamaliel cites the example of Theudas, whose followers 'were dispersed (dialyō) and came to nothing.' The word captures the scattering of a movement or gathering when its center fails.
Gamaliel's speech in Acts 5:35–39 uses dialyō to make a crucial theological argument: if the Jesus movement is of human origin, it will dissolve (dialyō) like all other human movements — like Theudas, like Judas the Galilean. But if it is of God, 'you will not be able to overthrow them.' History vindicates Gamaliel's logic. Two thousand years later, what no empire, no persecution, and no philosophy has been able to dialyō — scatter and dissolve — is the Church. What God builds cannot be dissolved. This echoes Jesus' promise: 'I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it' (Matthew 16:18).