Obey Whom?

TODAY’S SPECIAL: Acts 4:13-21

TO CHEW ON: "Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, 'Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges!'” Acts 4:18,19

After God healed the lame man through Peter, many people believed in Jesus. This made the religious leaders jealous.

"Preaching to the multitudes" - Artist unknown

First they ordered Peter and John to stop preaching. Then they grilled them with questions. Finally they told them not to speak of Jesus any more OR ELSE and let them go.

"The boldness of Peter and John" - Artist unknown

But Peter and John had no intention of obeying the leaders’ order. They knew in some things it’s more important to obey God than people.

"Peter and John before the Sanhedrin" - Artist unknown

What about today? Can you think of a situation when you would need to disobey what someone told you to do or the law of your land in order to obey God?


PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to know when I should obey You even if it means I would be disobeying others. Then give me the courage to do what pleases You. Amen.


MORE: Hard Choices
Are there times when we too have to choose between obeying God and people? What would you do in the following situations? Why?

• You see your friend steal something. Your friend demands that you don’t tell.

• Someone on the phone asks for your dad, but he tells you to say he’s not home.

• On the school playground you talk to a friend about Jesus. Someone tells the teacher and she asks you never to talk about Jesus on school property again.

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.