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"WE OUGHT TO OBEY GOD RATHER THAN MEN" "Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men." (Acts 5:29)This heart-convicting verse and its application must be clearly understood by every believer. Those words which Peter spoke, and the others response to the Jewish authorities, who commanded them to stop teaching about Jesus, is a truth that will arise in the life of every Bible believer over and over: “We ought to obey God rather than men.” There are no ifs. ands. or buts about it, obeying God is one of those Divine Musts we find throughout the Scriptures. It's just like that must that Jesus declared to Nicodemus, "Ye MUST be born again."We find here in this chapter that the more the church grew, the more jealous and angrier the Sadducees became. Once again, they brought the apostles before the Sanhedrin, though God showed He could rescue them at any time, should He so desire (17-21). The apostles knew that, and because of their growing support, they could have successfully resisted arrest, but they chose not to. Instead, they trusted in the overruling power of Almighty God whom they served (vs. 21-26).The Sadducees in particular were angry; for they, being the high priestly party, were the ones whom the apostles blamed for the death of Jesus. The apostle's testimony was based on their belief in Jesus' physical resurrection, something that the Sadducees believed could not happen but that the apostles repeatedly claimed they had witnessed. The fearless apostles refused to alter their message, but assured the Sanhedrin that forgiveness was available to the repentant.Now folks, that is the foundation on which believers, beginning in the Book of Acts, and in past centuries around the world, have gone out hither and yon proclaiming their faith in the risen and glorified Christ. Oh, that we too would be inspired by the sacrifices of those who have gone before us and especially by those who paid the ultimate price with their very lives.Yes friends, like those apostles we too ought to obey God rather than men. Then we will be able to embrace any trials and persecutions from unbelievers as opportunities to glorify God thru Jesus Christ, while finding joy in being associated with our Saviour's sufferings which He endured for all who would go and be about their Father's Business.