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.