Acts 5:26-33 ESV

26 Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them.

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26 Nang magkagayo'y sumama ang kapitan sa bantay ng templo at sila'y dinala ngunit walang dahas, sapagkat natatakot na baka sila'y batuhin ng taong-bayan.
27 Nang kanilang madala sila, pinatayo sila sa harap ng Sanhedrin. Tinanong sila ng pinakapunong pari, 28 “Hindi ba't mahigpit naming ipinagbawal sa inyo na huwag kayong magturo sa pangalang ito, ngunit tingnan ninyo, pinuno ninyo ang Jerusalem ng inyong aral, at ibig pa ninyong iparatang sa amin ang dugo ng taong ito!” 29 Ngunit sumagot si Pedro at ang mga apostol, “Kailangang sa Diyos kami sumunod, sa halip na sa mga tao. 30 Ibinangon ng Diyos ng ating mga ninuno si Jesus, na inyong pinatay nang ibitin siya sa isang punungkahoy. 31 Siya'y itinaas ng Diyos sa kanyang kanang kamay bilang Pinuno at Tagapagligtas, upang bigyan ang Israel ng pagkakataong magsisi, at ng kapatawaran ng mga kasalanan. 32 Kami'y mga saksi sa mga bagay na ito, gayundin ang Espiritu Santo na ibinigay ng Diyos sa mga sumusunod sa kanya.”
33 Nang marinig nila ito, sila'y napoot at ninais na sila'y patayin.


WE MUST OBEY GOD RATHER THAN MEN

Again, the Sanhedrin were surprised that they were not inside the prison, had summoned the disciples for more threatening and intimidations. But, they were aware that the people could stone them if things would go wrong. The unnamed high priest had reprimanded them, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us.”

There were two things he acknowledged. First, they had ‘filled Jerusalem with their teaching”. Apparently, their message had gone far and wide so that everyone in the city had heard about the crucified Jesus of Nazareth had risen from the dead. In other words, His name became viral so that everyone was talking about Him. Secondly, he with all the rest understood that the disciples’ message had indicted them as responsible for Jesus’ death. He said, “you intend to bring this man's blood upon us” Most probably, they were afraid the public would realize that they killed Jesus under false pretenses and could lose their power and influence. Or it may be a greater fear. In Roman law, if one wrongfully charge someone of a crime, he was legally liable to receive the punishment of that crime. Pilate knew they had no real reason to have Jesus be crucified. Should the truth comes out, the members of the Sanhedrin could be crucified.

Instead of back-pedalling their message, Peter boldly declared, “We must obey God rather than men.” In no circumstance that not to preach Jesus was acceptable. Obedience to God had the primary importance rather than their comfort. How about us today? What is most important to us? Peter, instead, preached Christ unto them unapologetically, saying, “The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” The words Peter is using go far beyond the Sanhedrin's initial concern about resurrection and popularity. The title "Leader" comes from the original Greek root word translated as "prince," or "captain," or even "pioneer" or "founder." Some translations use "author" to translate this word in Hebrews 12:2.

Sadly, instead of being ‘cut to the heart’, these leaders had their hearts stirred to more anger. They thought of murdering them. Indeed, truth hurts and heals the humble heart. But, it hardens the proud and haughty. May, we won’t have such hearts should the Lord speaks to us today.

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