Acts 5:27-32
The Second Sunday of Easter, Year C
We Must Obey Love
Acts 5:27–32
Opening Reflection
The apostles are standing trial—again.
They’ve already been told to stop talking about Jesus. They’ve already been arrested. Now they’re brought before the same authorities who oversaw Jesus’ death and asked a single question:
Why didn’t you obey us?
Peter’s answer is clear and courageous:
“We must obey God rather than any human authority.”
But this isn’t rebellion for the sake of it. It’s loyalty to love. They’re not trying to stir up conflict. They’re witnessing to a new kind of power—resurrection power—where the crucified one is now alive and reigning.
This story reminds us: following Jesus may lead us into tension with the status quo. But it will always lead us deeper into life.
Context
This scene happens shortly after the resurrection and Pentecost. The Spirit has empowered the early church to heal, teach, and bear witness—and that boldness has drawn attention. The apostles have just been miraculously freed from jail and immediately go back to preaching. Now they’re being questioned for it.
Peter’s testimony connects resurrection to real-world authority: God raised Jesus, the very one these leaders tried to silence. The apostles stand in the power of that same Spirit, now calling others into forgiveness and new life.
Read the Passage
Acts 5:27–32 (NLT)
27 Then they brought the apostles before the high council, where the high priest confronted them.
28 “We gave you strict orders never again to teach in this man’s name!” he said. “Instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching about him, and you want to make us responsible for his death!”
29 But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.
30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed him by hanging him on a cross.
31 Then God put him in the place of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this so the people of Israel would repent of their sins and be forgiven.
32 We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him.”
Key Insights
Resurrection Is Political - To proclaim Jesus raised from the dead is to declare that death-dealing systems don’t get the final say. It’s a bold, world-shifting truth. No wonder the authorities were threatened.
Witness Is the Church’s First Job - The apostles don’t respond with arguments or clever defenses. They witness. They speak what they’ve seen and know. Our calling isn’t to win debates—it’s to embody resurrection.
Obedience Means Allegiance to Love - Peter’s words are often quoted in legal or confrontational settings, but in context, they’re about love and liberation. They obey God because God raised Jesus—and they’ve been changed by that reality.
Guiding Question
Where are you being invited to obey love—especially when it’s uncomfortable or unpopular?
Reflections & Resources
A Plain Account on Acts 5:27-32
Working Preacher on Acts 5:27-32
