Brochas: Daf Lamed Zayin amud aleph

There was an incident involving Rabban Gamliel and the Elders ... and they brought dates before them and they ate. And Rabban Gamliel gave R. Akiva permission to recite the blessing. R. Akiva hastened to recite the one blessing which is an abridgement of three (i.e. the blessing made after consuming one of the seven species.). Rabban Gamliel said to him: Akiva until when will you poke your head into a dispute. (R. Akiva) said to him, our master, even though you say thus and your colleagues thus, you have taught us our master (that in a matter of dispute between) an individual and many, we follow the opinion of the majority.

Tosfos explain that Rabban Gamliel thaought that R. Akiva would recite Motzi in accordance with his views.

The BenYehoyada explains that R. Akiva was justifiably nervous of the reaction of his Rebbe, Rabban Gamliel.  Even though he had both been given permission to recite the blessing and believed he was justified in acting in accord with his own opinion, given that it was also the opinion of the Chachomim, he recognised both that the Tannaim were typically stringent when it came to reproving those they felt had impinged upon their honour, and that he personally, as the son of a convert, did not possess “Zchus Avos” (the merit of the Forefathers.) In consequence, he was quick to stress to Rabban Gamliel, the Halachic dictum which Rabban Gamliel had himself taught, namely: that in a matter of dispute between an individual and many, we follow the opinion of the majority.