5/13 Acts 4:19-20

¹⁹ But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, ²⁰ for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard."

The same Peter who in fear for his life had denied Jesus now stood boldly before the same men who had convicted Jesus and accused them of murdering the Messiah. The power of the Holy Spirit filled Peter. The solution to fear is the power of the Holy Spirit. In spite of Peter's anointed words, the religious leaders demanded that the disciples stop preaching about Jesus.

Peter and John answered with the reply in our verse for today. Would it be right in the sight of God to listen to the rulers instead of God? Their question clearly meant that the rulers were demanding that Peter and John disobey God. It was Jesus who told them to be witnesses of what they saw and heard (Acts 1:8). Peter and John said they had no choice. They had to proclaim it. The rulers were politically savvy enough to know they would be discredited if they punished them for performing the miraculous healing of the man lame from birth. They could only threaten Peter and John and then let them go.

The Word of God tells us to submit to those whom God places in authority. Peter and John exemplify a notable exception. When leaders command us to disobey God, we must obey God rather than man and trust God for the outcome. Fear of being judged by others can cause us to compromise our witnesses and miss the opportunities to testify about Jesus. Look to the Holy Spirit to give you the words and boldly declare what God has done in you.

Consider: What are the things of God that you have seen and heard? You didn't live with Jesus during His earthly ministry, but you live with Him now. What testimonies do you have to share about the things He has done in your life?