We Must Obey God Rather Than Men

We must obey God rather than Men

Acts 5:26-33

Sometimes, the Scripture seems to put us in quite a dilemma. Peter’s response in the passage we just read shows that Peter’s response to the High Priest’s charge that the Apostles had disobeyed the strict prohibition of the Sanhedrin that they should no longer preach, teach, or do anything in the name of Jesus is that God ought to obeyed rather than men. But does not Scripture in both Romans 13:1-7 and 1 Peter 2:13-17 teach that we are to be in subjection to, that is to obey secular authority and that the one who resists these powers are disobeying the rulers which God has established. So how does this work out?

Let us first examine this text in Acts and see what it tells us. First of all, we must put this text in its context. Peter, John, and the Apostles had made a habit of teaching the people in Solomon’s Porch in the Temple which was under the supervision of the priests and Sadducees. One of the things which concerned then is that access to the place to teach was limited to approved Rabbis. The Sadducees were not spiritual people at all for the most part. They were more concerned with the profitable business of religion. So unless, a teacher challenged their authority or caused trouble among the common people whom they hated, they weren’t really concerned all that much. They might have tolerated some “populist” teaching, but they would not tolerate anyone who could be seen as a threat by Rome. We read that Jesus himself in John 11:48 represented such a threat in their eyes. The Jewish leaders could only perform their lucrative business by the grace of Rome. In addition to this, the Sadducees had part in the illegal trial at night of Jesus and His condemnation. So to preach and do signs and wonders in the name of Jesus was doubly infuriating to them.

After the healing of the lame man in chapter 3, the occasion for preaching it presented led to the arrest of Peter, John, and probably the lame man as well. Upon their release, they were strictly ordered not to preach and teach in the name of Jesus. They might overlook these acts if they were done in the name of Peter, but not Jesus. But the Apostles continued to preach and teach as well as perform signs and wonders there which led to a second arrest. But an angel of the Lord released them and passed them through the passed doors with the command to resume preaching and teaching in the name of Jesus, which they did.

When the Sanhedrin summoned for them in prison, they were shocked to hear that even though the guard was posted and the doors locked, they had escaped. They did not have long to ponder these things when news came that they were back teaching the people at the Temple. So they summoned for them there, this time without force as they feared the people would stone them. They feared men rather than God. So the Apostles were brought before the Sanhedrin.

After the High Priest had reminded them that they had been ordered not to teach and preach in Jesus’ name, the High Priest noted that they had filled Jerusalem with their teaching. Jesus had commanded that the Apostles start in Jerusalem (Acts 1:8). Jerusalem was full of the teaching of the Apostles. Soon it would spill out to Judaea and Samaria, and then to the uttermost part of the earth. But it was the teaching which was being done in Jerusalem which concerned them the most as it was a direct challenge to their authority. They claimed the authority of the Torah formally which they claimed established them as priest and leaders of the people. But they were more concerned with the authority of Rome. They wanted to obey men rather than God.

At this point, we should mention that it was Rome who approved and appointed the High Priest. It was usually sold to the highest bidder. Rome expected a cut of the profits as well as their being able to keep the population under control. The torah clearly stated that the High Priest be a descendant of Aaron, and that this appointment was for life. The Romans cared little for this. Neither did the Jews as some of the Hasmonean kings who ruled during the short period after winning freedom from Antiochus Epiphanes made themselves high priests as well. They were descendants of Judah and not Levi and should have been prohibited from serving. Strangely enough, Jesus was also a descendant of Judah, but as the Book of Hebrews notes, Jesus was of the order of Melchizedek and not Aaron which was an earlier and superior priesthood. So Jesus is the True High Priest because of belonging to this greater order.