Acts 4:19

19 But Peter and John answering said to them, If it be righteous before God to listen to you rather than to God, judge ye;

Acts 4:19 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 4:19

But Peter and John answered and said unto them
With great boldness and courage, and without any fear of man, but in the true fear of God whether it be right in the sight of God;
who is omniscient, and sees, and knows all things, all the actions of men, and the springs of them; who is holy, just, and true, and sits and judges among the gods, that which is right: to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye:
it is not denied that magistrates are to be hearkened to, and obeyed: but not more than God, or in things that are contrary to his nature, will, law, honour, and glory: whatever is agreeable to the law and will of God, commanded by magistrates, should be attended to, and cheerfully obeyed; but what is not should be disregarded, whatever follows upon it: and this was so just and reasonable, that the apostles appeal to the sanhedrim, or council itself, to determine.

Acts 4:19 In-Context

17 But that it be not further spread among the people, let us threaten them severely no longer to speak to any man in this name.

18 And having called them, they charged [them] not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

19 But Peter and John answering said to them, If it be righteous before God to listen to you rather than to God, judge ye;

20 for as for us *we* cannot refrain from speaking of the things which we have seen and heard.

21 But they, having further threatened them, let them go, finding no way how they might punish them, on account of the people, because all glorified God for what had taken place;