Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
Read Chapter 5
George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
Peter answered boldly, We ought to obey God, rather than men. And withal adds, that God had raised from death Jesus, the Prince and Saviour of mankind, by whose merits all might find repentance, and forgiveness of their sins; that they were witnesses of his resurrection (Witham)
High magnanimity! He shows them too that they are fighting against God. For, he says, Whom you killed, Him has God raised up. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, Whom you slew and hanged on a tree. Him has God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. (v. 30, 31.) And again they refer the whole to the Father, that He should not seem to be alien to the Father. And has exalted, says He, with his right hand. He affirms not merely the Resurrection, but the Exaltation also. For to give repentance to Israel. Observe here as before the gain (to them): observe the perfection of doctrine conveyed in the form of apology.
The leaven-I myself, brethren, I say, who am sixty-five years old in the Lord, and have fallen in with the brethren in all parts of the world, and have read through all Holy Scripture, am not frightened at the things which are said to terrify us. For those who are greater than I have said, "We ought to obey God rather than men."
From this, therefore, he commanded me to desist, thinking, doubtless, that if I myself should recant, the others would also follow me in that. But I answered him neither unreasonably nor in many words, "We must obey God rather than men."