Acts 5:29

29 But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.

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 They brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, where the high priest interrogated them.

28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us responsible for this man’s blood.”

29 But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.

30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging Him on a tree.

31 God exalted Him to His right hand as Prince and Savior, in order to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.