18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 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 must speak of what we have seen and heard.”

Acts 4:18-20 (ESV)

Christians are nice people: generally they pay their taxes, obey the law, raise their children, and do their jobs. As a consequence, most governments tolerate their presence. Governments love to have people like that in their country; it makes up for the others. Yet when the numbers begin to change, when the Church speaks out, then the authorities begin to worry.

Panic seized the rulers of Israel in this chapter of Acts. Many in the city had believed the apostles’ message (Acts 4:4). Their teaching was the straightforward gospel of Jesus’ atoning death and resurrection. Unable to formulate a coherent plan to address the situation, the Jewish religious leaders tried to muzzle the Church, and “charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus” (v. 18).1 It was this policy, the gagging of God’s servants, which drove Peter and John to challenge their authority, to claim that God, and God alone, had the allegiance of their hearts. The apostles’ statement challenges all human authority with the following question: do you realize that you are not God?

Scripture gives no evidence of any collective hand-wringing between Peter and John over the query, “Should I speak the truth to those in power?” Instead, they boldly put their government on notice with respect to their agenda—without fear or favor. Peter and John confronted their antagonists to take sides on sources of authority: choose God, or men. Men of God will not be afraid to challenge civic leaders in their own congregations with the same stark apostolic choice: “You must judge” whether to listen to men or God (v. 19).

Footnotes:
1
See Kairos Journal article, “We Can’t Help But Tell the Truth.”

article adapted from Kairos Journal

First Baptist Church is located in Perryville, MD