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We MUST obey God Acts 5:27-32, Revelation 1:4-8 We MUST [emphasis mine] obey God rather than any human authority. (Acts 5:29, NRSV) Peter and the other apostles have been expressly forbidden to continue their teaching about Jesus. Failure to obey the edicts of the council will surely put their very lives in danger. It would be understandable if the apostles simply obeyed the rules, and stopped their discipleship activities altogether. After all, they most assuredly want to stay alive, to avoid prison if possible, to live normal lives with their families and friends. In fact, they’ve already experienced prison, but were set free by an angel of the Lord who urged them to continue their teaching and preaching. (5:17-21) Can you imagine just how angry that high priest must be, knowing that these disciples, these little people, have chosen to ignore his rulings? That’s where we pick up with this passage. Peter and the others are standing before that furious High Priest and his whole Council of Elders! This is an intimidating group. (Sort of like being called on the carpet by the Bishop and all of the other leaders, knowing that they’re really mad at you – do you suppose? Get the picture?) All the eyes of the Elder Wise Men, the High Muckety-Mucks of Jerusalem, are unblinkingly focused upon those lowly apostles, staring them down. Then the High Priest, the Highest Muckety of the Council of Mucketies speaks up, and his voice thunders throughout the meeting place: DIDN’T WE TELL YOU, IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS, TO STOP THIS JESUS-TEACHING NONSENSE?? THE ROMAN AUTHORITIES WON’T PUT UP WITH IT – YOU’RE GOING TO GET US ALL KILLED.  SO LISTEN TO ME, AND LISTEN GOOD YOU LITTLE NOTHINGS : STOP TEACHING ABOUT JESUS, NOW!!!  The place gets real quiet. The High Priest and all of his Elders are leaning forward, staring, waiting for those little nothing disciples to dare to speak up. The gathered crowd closes in, literally holding its collective breath, not wanting to miss one word. Finally, the calm, cool, collected, and confident voice of Peter is heard: We must obey God rather than any human authorities! That’s what he says, right there in front of God and that High Priest and his whole Council of Elders!! Do you hear that? Of course, that was a long, long time ago. From time to time, over the course of many centuries, Peter’s confident words thundered in the ears of Christian disciples. Question is: are we listening? Can we still hear those words?  - Pastor Piet -  April 15, 2007