Obey God Rather Than men

We must obey God rather than men

ACTS CHAPTER 5 ◄
Acts 5:24-28 Chief Priests

Acts 5:29-33 Obey God rather than Men

Acts 5:34-42 Gamaliel

ACTS 5:29 29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We must obey God rather than men.

What does Peter imply by saying, "We must obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29)?
The high priest's words (see Chief Priests) contradicted what God said to them.

How often does this happen today?
Whenever anyone, including a pastor, tells anyone to do something that contradicts what God wrote in the Bible.

In such cases, whom should Christians obey?
God rather than men.

How can we know what God said in the Bible?

ACTS 5:30-33 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. 31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.” 33 When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them.

Do the apostles try to defend their actions?
No, they sound like the prosecutors, declaring to them, "you murdered" Jesus "by hanging on a tree," and that their prior command "not to speak at all nor to teach in the name of Jesus" (Acts 4:18, see Chief Priests) disobeys God.

Was Jesus murdered or did He voluntarily sacrifice His life for us?
Both. See I Am the Good Shepherd.

Who do the apostles imply do not have "the Holy Spirit" (Acts 5:32)?
The high priest and the other accusers in the audience.

Why might the apostles have been particularly emboldened?
An angel of the Lord had just led them out of prison, right past (or through, see Sadducees) the guards who couldn't see them. They knew God was with them.

How did the high priest and the Sanhedrin react to Peter's declaration of Jesus' exultation and them being guilty of murder?
By plotting to murder again: "When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them" (Acts 5:33).