Acts 5, continued

  • Acts 5:25-26 – Ultimately, the people feared God and the rulers feared the people.
  • Acts 5:27 – The apostles were teaching in the name of Jesus, led by the Holy Spirit.
  • Acts 5:28 – The rulers didn’t want blame to fall on them.
  • Acts 5:29 – Note that Peter was grouped with the apostles and had no special authority over the other apostles. Between the apostles and the rulers, who was right and wrong? God showed the apostles were right via signs and wonders (Acts 14:3; Hebrews 2:4). We should fear God more than we fear men. See Proverbs 1:7; 2:2-6; Isaiah 33:6; Proverbs 29:25; Acts 9:31. We obey who we fear. Thus, fearing God means obeying Him. Compare Acts 5:14. After Ananias and Sapphira were struck dead, more people believed than ever.
  • Acts 5:32 – The apostles continue to emphasize that they were witnesses of these things. The same Greek word is translated both “witness” and “martyr.” See I Corinthians 5:12.