More damage can be redirected to the chosen creature than it has toughness or to the chosen planeswalker than it has loyalty, as long as that damage is all dealt at once (like combat damage is) or is all dealt while a single spell or ability is resolving.

Gideon's Sacrifice has no effect on damage already dealt earlier in the turn.

Gideon's Sacrifice doesn't change the source of the damage or whether the damage is combat damage.

If the chosen creature or planeswalker isn't on the battlefield or isn't a creature or planeswalker at the time damage would be dealt, the damage won't be redirected.

If you cast more than one Gideon's Sacrifice in one turn, all damage that would be dealt at once to you and/or permanents you control is dealt to one of the chosen permanents of your choice. It's not dealt to all of them, and you can't split the damage between them. The next time damage would be dealt to you, you may choose a different one of those permanents to be dealt that damage.

If you control no creatures or planeswalkers as Gideon's Sacrifice resolves, nothing happens. The damage redirection effect won't be able to be applied to any damage events.