Peter and the other apostles replied: We must obey God rather than men!
Acts 5:29
The apostles were brought before the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish court consisting of 70 to 100 men. Imagine the scene: the members of the Sanhedrin sitting in a semicircle, backed by three rows of disciples of the “learned men,” with the clerks of the court standing in front. How intimidating this must have been for the apostles! The apostles were brought before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. They reminded the apostles that they had been told not to teach in the name of Jesus, yet the apostles had continued to do so: “You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” (Acts 5:28) The members of the Sanhedrin were concerned that they would be blamed for the death of Jesus. Peter and the other apostles replied that they must obey God and not man. When the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. Obedience to God’s will always costs us something: our reputations, our position of influence, rejection, maybe even our very life.
The apostles knew that those things waned in comparison with obedience to God. Obedience meant that they would stay close to their Savior, and their lives were consumed with knowing Him and making Him known to the world.
Are you willing to count the cost of obedience to Christ? It may cost you your job, relationships that are contrary to God’s best will for you, or other sacrifices that are hard to make. The apostles were beaten for disobeying their orders to stop talking about Jesus, but they left rejoicing because they had shared in the sufferings of Christ. (v.41) What would you have done if you were in their places?
Heavenly Father,
I am willing to count the cost of obeying You. I want to be like he apostles who never stopped teaching and preaching the good news of Jesus Christ. (v.42) I no longer wish to live protecting my own self interests. I want to live totally surrendered to You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
