And when they had brought them,  they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, (28) saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name?  And, look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us! ”  (29) But Peter and the other apostles answered and said:  “We ought to obey God rather than men.  (30) The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. (31) Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.  (32) And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him. (40b) and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. (41) So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were  worthy to suffer shame for His name. 

The Acts of the Apostles was a written account by Luke of the first years of the early church.  The historical context of our verses today tell us of a period of great power, popularity  and energy of the church by the Holy Spirit. Opposed to this growth were the Jewish leaders who were fearing for their power as religious leaders of a people and also for their status as a protected religion under Roman law.  The Sanhedrin (the leaders of the Jewish people) was irrationally angry because of the threat to their power and position.  For them to co-exist with this new religion they would also have to acknowledge their terrible act of killing the Christ – and they chose this world rather than the eternal life of the gospel.

Our study today tells us that the apostles were thrown into prison by the order of the Sanhedrin – they were freed by an Angel of God and were told to return to the Temple in Jerusalem to speak the gospel to the people.  despite their miraculous delivery, they were rearrested and rebuked by the High Priest but Peter – full of the Spirit – told the Sanhedrin that “We ought to obey God rather than men.”  The Apostles were reluctantly released – but first flogged – and commanded by the Jewish leaders to speak no more of Jesus. But our verses today tell us that nothing could deter these men from speaking the gospel.

Also the Sanhedrin was accused by Peter – for the second time – of murdering Jesus who he describes as the author of salvation. JEsus was the Savior of the Jews but the Jews didn’t think they needed a savior.

Not all of our problems present such a clear cut solution as the Apostles faced. As Christians we are expected by God to be obedient.  Whatever the cost we are to obey God. I know that at the end of my life I don’t want to hear the words spoken by Jesus:  “depart from me; I never knew you.”