English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

Acts 5:24-32 (English Standard Version)

24Now when(A) the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. 25And someone came and told them, "Look! The men whom you put in prison(B) are standing in the temple and teaching the people." 26Then(C) the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for(D) they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

27And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28saying,(E) "We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you(F) intend to bring this man’s blood upon us." 29But Peter and the apostles answered,(G) "We must obey God rather than men. 30(H) The God of our fathers(I) raised Jesus,(J) whom you killed by hanging him on(K) a tree. 31God exalted(L) him at his right hand as(M) Leader and(N) Savior,(O) to give(P) repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32And(Q) we are witnesses to these things, and(R) so is the Holy Spirit,(S) whom God has given to those who obey him."

This is the famous passage where Peter lays it out and says, "When it comes down to a difference between what God says and what man says.... I'm going with what God says!" It's better to obey God than man. Wow, stating that can really come with some great consequences. I fear sometimes that in the very near future we may have to make this choice more and more often. When I'm faced with this challenge will I be able to have the courage and backbone to say what Peter said? I guess I need to make sure I start right now. When I think about it, there are lots of ways I can make sure I obey God rather than man...maybe not with the same visible consequences. But when there are rules I need to follow, am I doing it because man told me to? Or because I want to obey God? Because, if I'm obeying man, when man's not looking, there's no reason to obey. But if I'm obeying God, he's always watching. I need to always obey.