When they had brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, the high priest questioned them, 28 “We gave you strict orders [did we not?] to stop teaching in that name. Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and want to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles said in reply, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus, though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins. 32 We are witnesses of these things, as is the holy Spirit that God has given to those who obey him.” 33 When they heard this, they became infuriated and wanted to put them to death.
In this passage, the apostles are once again brought before the Sanhedrin, the highest religious authority in Jerusalem, for continuing to teach in the name of Jesus. Despite previous warnings, they persist in proclaiming the message of His resurrection. Peter speaks on behalf of the apostles, declaring without hesitation: “We must obey God rather than men” (v. 29). This single line captures the central tension between fidelity to divine mission and submission to human authority.
Peter goes on to restate the heart of the Gospel: that Jesus, whom the religious leaders condemned, has been raised by God, exalted at His right hand, and made both Leader and Savior, offering repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins (v. 31). The apostles declare that they are witnesses of these things—along with the Holy Spirit, “whom God has given to those who obey Him” (v. 32).
The Sanhedrin’s reaction is violent rage—they want to put the apostles to death. But it is precisely this clash between the power structures of the world and the transforming power of the risen Christ that drives the narrative of Acts and reflects a perennial theme of salvation history.
The apostles’ unwavering stand reflects a pattern seen throughout Scripture: obedience to God often requires resistance to unjust human commands. Just as the Hebrew midwives disobeyed Pharaoh to preserve life (Exodus 1:17), and Daniel refused to stop praying to the Lord despite a royal edict (Daniel 6:10), Peter and the apostles prioritize divine command over human restriction.
Jesus Himself, during His trial, told Pilate: “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). His resurrection has ushered in a new age, and the apostles, empowered by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2:4), now act as living witnesses of this reality. Their words echo Jesus’ command: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations…” (Matt. 28:19). The courage to obey God above all else is not rooted in defiance but in love—a love made possible by the gift of the Spirit (cf. Rom. 5:5).
The apostles' declaration is not merely a moral stance but a theological claim: God’s sovereignty over human history is being revealed in the resurrection of Jesus and in the Spirit-filled mission of the Church. This moment is a turning point—a definitive break from fear and compromise, as the apostles now imitate Christ in suffering for truth.
This episode from the early Church speaks powerfully into the Christian life today. Believers still face societal pressures to keep faith private or to conform to secular norms. While not all opposition rises to open persecution, there is often subtle resistance to proclaiming truth, standing for life, or witnessing to the hope of the resurrection.
Like the apostles, Christians today must discern whether their choices are shaped more by fear of man or faith in God. The courage to speak truth, especially when it costs something, is a hallmark of authentic discipleship (cf. Luke 9:23-26). The apostles’ triumph is not the absence of suffering, but the joy of remaining faithful amid it—a triumph available to every follower of Christ.
Almighty God, You raised up Jesus and exalted Him as Lord and Savior. By Your Spirit, grant us the courage to obey You above all else. Strengthen our faith, that we may proclaim the risen Christ with boldness and joy. May our witness, like that of the apostles, bring hope and light to a world in need. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
May God bless all who walk the path of faith.
Sources
- McSorley, Joseph. An Outline History of the Church by Centuries (From St. Peter to Pius XII). 2nd ed., B. Herder Book Co., 1944.
- Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
- Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: The Pentateuch. Four Courts Press, 2017
- Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
- Charpentier, Etienne. How to Read the Old Testament. Translated by John Bowden, 1981.
- Komonchak, Joseph, et al., editors. The New Dictionary of Theology.
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