Hey family, this week we’ve been looking at Acts chapter 4. Let me direct your attention to verses 19 – 20. Here we see Peter and John responding to the priests of the Sanhedron, who had just commanded them to stop talking about Jesus.
But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:19-20
The first question is actually a trick question! The answer is always going to be, it’s better to listen to God, even the priests would have agreed. The point in asking the question is to suggest that there would be a difference between what the priests would say, and what God would say, thereby pitting them against each other. This would be super insulting to them as the whole point of being a priest is being aligned with God, being his mouthpiece. Peter and John finish off this sweet dig with a sarcastic command, you be the judge of God. Now that the lines have been drawn, they get around to actually saying no. They have seen and heard the resurrected Jesus, seen him ascend, and now are empowered by His spirit. Being silent just isn’t an option.
As Christ-followers, we have tasted and seen that the Lord is good, for he has irrevocably infused us with His Spirit. That’s why we can now draw near to him just like his apostles did. And we can boldly give a similar response when the world attempts to silence us, and it will try, we’re promised this. The last thing we ever will do is be silent!
Jonathan Duncan