Obeying God above Man

It has be a tumultuous time even for Jerusalem. First, the crucifixion of Jesus, then rumors of His resurrection, rumors of His appearances to His disciples, then the healing of the lame man just outside the Temple gate. More signs and wonders, the judgment of that lying couple among the believers when both die under the conviction of God. The powerful religious elite are fearful all this will lessen their place with Rome as mass conversions to Jesus turn thousands away from their traditions. Now’s the time to put a stop to this mayhem; we killed the One claiming to be the Christ but now we must silence His disciples. Surely with Jesus gone, the disciples will succumb to threats from the Council.

The masses have become crazy even to the point of ‘carrying out the sick into the streets and laying them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them… and they were all healed.’ ¹ Enough is enough!

But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.
Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” ²

Who’s in charge here? Who let them out after we commanded them imprisoned and we knew they were locked up and guarded? Who could do such a thing against our authority? How could they have escaped? While the Council and the guards argue about what might have happened,

And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people. ³

How is it that everything the powerful Council does makes the situation even worse? Even your Temple guard are intimidated by the masses turning to the words of the apostles witnessing of Jesus. But now you have these troublemakers back before the Council where they can be corrected.

And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” ⁴

Curious how the Council tries to turn the guilt away from themselves: ‘…you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.’ Jesus’s death was a central part of the message and the Council was the group who had orchestrated the crucifixion and yet now they did not want to accept responsibility. The Council again stresses the movement go no further, that the disciples cease and desist,

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. ⁵

“We must obey God rather than men.” The witness of Jesus, the things He taught, the repentance and forgiveness, are too important to remain silent. This is not an issue of civil disobedience but rather of sovereign obedience to the LORD. While the Council claimed to represent God, the Holy Spirit witnesses of the Higher Authority of Jesus over tradition. The Council is oblivious to the LORD and seeks to maintain their tradition. Only the counsel of Gamaliel prevents the desire of the Council to kill the apostles. Instead,

and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus. ⁶

It’s a great time to be a disciple standing with Jesus. It’s not such a great time to be on the Council opposing the LORD.