In an earlier study we examined the basis of the apostles’ confidence in the utter sovereignty of God, noting their commitment in prayer to the priority of proclaiming the full gospel in response to the Sanhedrin’s gagging order – the command “not to speak at all, nor teach in the name of Jesus” (Acts 4:18).

“The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.” (Acts 5:12-14)

Despite that command, in Acts 5 we find the apostles already continuing their public ministry in the Temple courts, specifically in Solomon’s Portico (v.12). There, they were in the same place in which Jesus had taught, revealing his oneness with the Father during the Feast of Hanukkah (John 10:22-39), just as they had been in connection with the healing of the lame man before their arrest (Acts 3:11). This was the covered colonnade that extended along the entire eastern edge of the Court of the Gentiles, which would have been much quieter than the more impressive Royal Stoa, referred to in the Talmud as “the trading place” ¹, and where Jesus overturned the tables and drove out the merchants and moneychangers.

Arraigned yet again before the council, and pressed to explain their disobedience, Peter and his colleagues boldly asserted their primary allegiance: “We must obey God rather than men” (v.27).

Obeying the Lord

“Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. ‘Go, stand in the temple courts,’ he said, ‘and tell the people all about this new life.’ At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.” (Acts 5:17-21)

So it was in Solomon’s Portico once again that the Apostles clearly showed not only their commitment to evangelism, but also their defiance of the Sanhedrin’s gagging order. Greatly enraged, the High Priest and his colleagues had them arrested and imprisoned. This time, however, Peter and John are not named, but, as verse 12 states that they were all there with one accord, it appears that this time all twelve were confined. But not for long! Miraculously released from prison by an angel of the Lord in the night, they were specifically commanded to continue what the authorities had abruptly stopped, “Go, stand in the Temple and speak to the people all the words of this life!” (v.20). This they quickly obeyed in the early morning, so early that the authorities were not yet aware of them, nor even of their angelic release. Yet this was in the face of the original gagging order and the likelihood of further arrest.

“Then someone came and said, ‘Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.’ At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them. The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. ‘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 guilty of this man’s blood.’

Peter and the other apostles replied: ‘We must obey God rather than human beings! The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Saviour that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.’” (Acts 5:25-32)

Acts 5:32However ignorant of their night-time release, it didn’t take the reconvened Sanhedrin long to receive a telltale’s report of events in Solomon’s Portico (v.25). Remarkably, it seems that those listening to the apostles were pleased with what they were hearing, as Luke tells us that the arresting officers were in fear of being attacked by them (v.26). Arraigned yet again before the council, and pressed to explain their disobedience, Peter and his colleagues boldly asserted their primary allegiance: “We must obey God rather than men” (v.27). Also, having been sternly rebuked that their teaching was directly blaming the Sanhedrin for the death of Jesus, the apostles agreed with them, directly accusing them of his murder. Much more importantly, they asserted God’s deliverance of Jesus from death, the importance of repentance and forgiveness, and God’s gift of the Holy Spirit to those who obey him. In doing so, the apostles emphasised their role as God’s witnesses to these things. Incidentally, we should remember that John, one of those accused, was previously “known to the High Priest” (John 18:14-16), so there was a personal element in these events, too. No wonder that most members of the Sanhedrin were furious², so much so that they intended to have them killed!

Rejoicing in suffering

The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah. (Acts 5:41-42)

Here we see neither resentment nor protest at their treatment, not even a stoical acceptance, but rather, another aspect of obedience.

Although Gamaliel (who later became a believer) intervened with sage advice, averting such a savage outcome, nonetheless the apostles were flogged and placed under a second gagging order. It is imperative that we take notice of their responses to this: “They departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer for His name” (v.40). Here we see neither resentment nor protest at their treatment, not even a stoical acceptance, but rather, another aspect of obedience. Had not Jesus told them much earlier in Galilee, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven … rejoice and be exceedingly glad …” (Matt.5:10-11). Surely here in Jerusalem was a disposition granted by the indwelling Holy Spirit, also giving them boldness to continue their civil disobedience: “And daily in the Temple, and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Messiah” (Acts 5:42). Perhaps additionally they remembered the prediction and assurances made by Jesus when teaching in the Temple’s Court of Israel a few days after his triumphal entry from the Mount of Olives: “… they will lay hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues and prisons … but it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony …” (Luke 21:12ff). According to Mark, he also said, “When they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit” (14:11). They clearly trusted the promises made by Jesus.

Persecution leading to growth

Then another outbreak of persecution against the Jerusalem believers arose under Saul, who was “dragging off men and women, committing them to prison” (Acts 8:3), perhaps accentuated by the fact that by then “a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith”. (Acts 6:7). This phase was not directly against the apostles themselves, however. It led to the stoning of Stephen and the scattering of most of the early church, except the apostles. Though persecution continued, “those who were scattered went everywhere, preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). The priority of proclaiming the Gospel was sustained throughout, at great personal cost for many. The principle of “We must obey God rather than men” was clearly demonstrated by their actions, and church growth was the outcome. Furthermore, not even the later Herodian harassing of the church (Acts 12), in which James, the brother of John was executed and Peter imprisoned yet again, could prevent continuing growth – “the Word of God was growing and was being multiplied” (Acts 12:24).

The principle of “We must obey God rather than men” was clearly demonstrated by their actions, and church growth was the outcome.

What a challenge is this for us today!

When to obey man

When Peter wrote the first of his epistles some 20 or so years later, we find him exhorting exiled and dispersed believers in the Roman provinces of Asia Minor (now Turkey) to live godly lives and, “therefore subject yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or governors …” (1 Pet.2:13). Is this a blanket rule that supersedes the calling to obey God rather than man where the latter conflicts with the proclamation of the full gospel? Absolutely not! Here Peter’s concern is to “put to silence the ignorance of foolish men; though free, not using liberty as a cloak for vice”. Godly behaviour is his primary objective. Significantly, this section ends with the injunction, “Fear God. Honour the king” (v.17). The hierarchy is abundantly clear! Moreover, only four verses earlier, Peter has pointed out that the function of being a chosen people is that they (and we!) “may proclaim the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (v.9). Also, as several commentators have pointed out, the exhortation is for subjection to human ordinances, not wholesale obedience. Hence if the crunch comes to obeying God rather than man, the resultant penalty should be accepted, even with rejoicing to be “counted worthy to suffer for his name” (Acts 5:41).

Similarly with Christians; though resident in various geographical/cultural settings, our ‘homeland’ is in the heavenlies and so is our allegiance.

Even in this passage in Peter’s first letter, the primacy of proclaiming God’s truth is apparent. Peter’s Greek word behind our English ‘proclaim’ is ‘exagello’. Ellicott’s Commentary points out that this word, “which is nowhere else found in the New Testament, means by rights ‘to proclaim to those without what has taken place within.’ This strict signification is very suitable here. St.Peter says that God has taken us for a people peculiarly near to Him, and the purpose is, not that we may stand within His courts and praise Him, but that we may carry to others the tidings of what we have been admitted to see.’”³ Furthermore, the word rendered ‘praises’ is more strictly to be translated as ‘excellences’ – excellences “of him who called us out of darkness into his marvellous light” – thus, testifying of the Gospel.

Paul’s declaration to the early Christians in Philippi is also pertinent regarding our primary loyalty: “For our citizenship is in heaven” (Phil 3:20). His Greek word is ‘politeuma’, a term he only used in this context. The citizens of Philippi lived in a Roman colony within a Greek geographical context, so subject to Roman, not Greek law.⁴ Its residents therefore owed allegiance to Rome, some 800 or so miles distant⁵; in that sense, Rome was their ‘homeland’. Similarly with Christians; though resident in various geographical/cultural settings, our ‘homeland’ is in the heavenlies and so is our allegiance. God is absolutely our Sovereign Lord.

Like the first apostles, we must surely obey God rather than men. The rapidly-deteriorating culture in which we live seems likely lead us to make sacrifices to which the church in the West, at least, has been long unaccustomed. Some have already done so. Are we ready?

Notes 
1. Shabbat 15a
2. Strong’s 1282, Greek ‘diaprio’ – cut to the quick, overcome with indignation
3. Ellicott’s Concordance for English Readers – 1 Peter 2:9 Commentaries, accessed 06 May 2022
4. See, for example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippi accessed 09 May 2022
5. https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/did-paul-write-philippians-in-rome.html accessed 09 May 2022