11 April 2024
The high priest questioned them, saying, ‘We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.’ But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than any human authority.
From Acts 5:27-33, NRSV
The apostles were brought once more before the Sanhedrin after continuing to teach in the name of Jesus. The accusation made by the high priest gives us an insight into the power of the apostles’ teaching – they had filled the whole city with it! In response to the accusations made against them, Peter made it crystal clear that obedience to God came first and foremost. It is clear that the apostles were not going to be silenced or intimidated and that they could do no other than to continue their work. At the end of this reading, we learn that the Sanhedrin were so angered that they wanted to put the apostles to death. They had no arguments to dissuade the apostles from their mission and were now prepared to impose their authority by force.
- What do you think was the motivation for the Sanhedrin to act as they did?
- Has obedience to God ever placed you in conflict with other “authorities”?
Reflect on how you can place obedience to God first and foremost in your life.
