Romans 13 tells us that we have a duty to submit to the governing authorities because the authorities are set up by the Lord himself. We submit because of conscience (that is, to honor the God who raised up the authority). This is a usual part of our life, especially in this country where we live, in the main, peaceful lives and free.

But there are times when we must, because of conscience, resist the authorities that God has set up. Our text shows this principle. The apostles are told to be Christ’s witnesses to Jerusalem, all Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). In the process of doing that, God heals a cripple in Jesus’ name through Peter and John. When this creates quite a stir, the authorities forbid the apostles to speak in the name of Jesus. The apostles refused to comply, saying: Judge for yourselves, whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard (v. 19). The authorities had nothing to say. Obviously, a miracle had happened and everyone knew it. They continued to tell the apostles not to speak in that name. The apostles continued to obey God rather than men, even though it meant they would be beaten.

What is the principle for civil disobedience that we learn from this passage? If authorities forbid us to do what God has commanded or if they command us to do what God forbids, we must obey God rather than men. The first and most obvious application is in the worship of God and witnessing to the gospel of Jesus. If the authorities say, "No speaking about Jesus, no believing in Jesus," then we must disobey men in order to obey God. And we will suffer the consequences for it. That is what happened to the early church and what still happens today.

There have been times and places where the authorities have not allowed the Bible to be circulated or the gospel of Jesus to be mentioned. The church of Jesus must be faithful to spread the gospel anyway, as God provides. And Christians have often suffered for their obedience to God. Part of our heritage is the Reformed Presbyterians who faced death rather than betray the name of Christ or hand over copies of the Holy Scriptures.

There are times when the authorities require us to do what God forbids. The early church was faced with the command to worship Caesar as god. They were willing to submit to Caesar as king and supreme earthly potentate, but they would not worship Caesar as Lord. They would only worship Jesus as Lord. For this they were persecuted, but they had to obey God rather than men.

Is an authority telling you to do something that God has forbidden? An employer (who is an authority) tells you to lie or steal. You may lose your job if you do not. But when you stand before God with the excuse, "I was just following orders," you will hear the words of Peter: We must obey God rather than men.

When the authorities command us to do something God forbids or forbids what God commands, we must obey God rather than men. That is the principle. The application is sometimes difficult. We must resist the temptation to apply this to things in too broad a fashion. If we do, then it will not be long that we find ourselves resisting authority, not because of conscience, but just because we disagree with it.

I close with a return to our text. From Peter’s example, we have seen what it means to obey God rather than men. Now I want us to focus on Peter’s words, which called the people of Jerusalem and us to obey God rather than men. The prophets have foretold about Jesus who would die to save men and who was raised again to give new life. He heals the body, but he also heals the soul. He died to give us new life.

We must obey God rather than men. That is for the authorities, but it is for us as well. Jesus is Lord and Savior, and the command of God is that you and I acknowledge him as our Lord and Savior. There is power to change lives in the name of Jesus, but we must submit to him in order to see that power in our lives.

Are you the ultimate authority over your life? God is commanding you to obey him and know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Your life can be healed by the power of the name of Jesus Christ.