Acts 5:29

29 respondens autem Petrus et apostoli dixerunt oboedire oportet Deo magis quam hominibus

Acts 5:29 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 5:29

Then Peter, and the other apostles, answered and said
Peter began, as the mouth of the apostles, being the eldest man, and very bold and zealous; and the rest followed, or joined, with him in what he said:

we ought to obey God rather than men;
this is said in answer to the charge of disobedience to the orders and commands of the council: men, civil magistrates, and ecclesiastical rulers, are to be obeyed in things which are not repugnant to the will of God; but in things that are, God is to be obeyed, and not men. God had commanded by an angel, that the apostles should go to the temple, and there preach the doctrines of the Gospel; the sanhedrim had forbid them to speak and teach in the name of Christ; who were now to be obeyed? God, and not men: from whence it appears that the apostles were to be justified in disregarding the council, and neglecting its orders; and which is no ways contrary to that obedience and submission, that is to be yielded to those that are in authority, in things civil and lawful.

Acts 5:29 In-Context

27 et cum adduxissent illos statuerunt in concilio et interrogavit eos princeps sacerdotum

28 dicens praecipiendo praecepimus vobis ne doceretis in nomine isto et ecce replestis Hierusalem doctrina vestra et vultis inducere super nos sanguinem hominis istius

29 respondens autem Petrus et apostoli dixerunt oboedire oportet Deo magis quam hominibus

30 Deus patrum nostrorum suscitavit Iesum quem vos interemistis suspendentes in ligno

31 hunc Deus principem et salvatorem exaltavit dextera sua ad dandam paenitentiam Israhel et remissionem peccatorum