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,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Peter and John turn the tables by asking their accusers to judge not by human standards, but by God's. This isn't just about obedience; it's about recognizing whose authority is ultimate, even for those who claim to represent God.
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,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Peter and John have just healed a man who was lame from birth, causing a huge stir among the crowds. Now, the religious authorities, including the priests and elders, have arrested them, demanding to know by what power or name they performed this miracle. They're not interested in God's power; they're worried about their own authority being undermined and want Peter and John to stop preaching about Jesus altogether.
When human leaders command you to do one thing, but you believe God commands another, who do you listen to? Peter and John faced this head-on.
Peter and John didn't just disagree with the religious council; they appealed to a higher authority.
A Divine Standard
They asked the council to judge whether it was right in the sight of God to obey them rather than God. This wasn't a suggestion; it was a declaration that God's perspective is the ultimate standard. Human commands only hold weight if they align with God's commands.
The Ultimate Judge
By referring the matter to God's judgment, Peter and John declared that their primary allegiance was to Him. The council, though powerful, was accountable to God just as much as the apostles were. This establishes a crucial principle: our obedience to human authorities is conditional upon their alignment with divine authority.
The religious leaders had just threatened Peter and John, commanding them to stop talking about Jesus. Yet, their response was remarkably bold.
Peter and John's refusal to be silenced wasn't just stubbornness; it stemmed from an internal compulsion to share what they had experienced.
Compelled by Truth
They stated, 'For we cannot but speak the things that we have seen and heard.' This wasn't a choice they could easily set aside. Their testimony was rooted in firsthand experience – seeing Jesus' miracles and hearing His teachings. This eyewitness account fueled their conviction.
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Divine Mandate vs. Human Prohibition
They understood that their mission to preach the gospel was given by God. To be silenced by human authority would be to disobey their divine commission. This highlights the tension between human attempts to control truth and the divine mandate to proclaim it.
Understand the original words
dikaios · Greek Adjective
The state of being in conformity with God's moral standard, truth, and requirements. It refers to that which is morally correct or just as determined by God’s character.
akouō · Greek Verb
The act of heeding, obeying, or submitting to the words or authority of another. Spiritually, it involves active compliance with God's revealed will.
This encounter highlights the apostles' unwavering commitment to God's authority over human authority, a principle rooted in Jesus' teachings and forged in the face of immediate opposition from the very religious leaders who had condemned Jesus.
c. AD 30-33
Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth is crucified and, according to Christian belief, resurrected, marking the foundational events of the Christian faith.
c. AD 30-33
Early Christian preaching in Jerusalem
Following Jesus' ascension, the apostles begin boldly preaching about him in Jerusalem, leading to a rapid growth in believers.
c. AD 31-34
Healing of the lame man at the Temple
Peter and John miraculously heal a man who had been lame from birth at the beautiful gate of the Temple, drawing a large crowd.
c. AD 31-34— this verse
Arrest and trial of Peter and John
Peter and John are arrested by the Temple authorities and brought before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council, for preaching about Jesus.
c. AD 31-34
Sanhedrin's threat and release
The Sanhedrin, intimidated by the crowd and unable to find a legal reason to punish the apostles, threatens them and releases them.
c. AD 31-34
Disciples report back and pray
Peter and John return to their fellow believers and recount the events, leading to a communal prayer for boldness.
This passage directly echoes Peter's principle here, stating explicitly, 'We must obey God rather than men.' It reinforces the idea that obedience to God supersedes any human authority when commands conflict.
Daniel 3:16-18Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego faced a similar dilemma, refusing to obey King Nebuchadnezzar's command to worship a golden image. Their resolute declaration, 'If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us... But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods,' mirrors the apostles' courage in prioritizing God's will over a king's decree.
1 Samuel 15:22Samuel rebuked King Saul for partially obeying God by sacrificing animals, yet disobeying God's specific command to utterly destroy the Amalekites. Samuel's words, 'Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams,' highlight that true obedience to God isn't just about outward action but about wholeheartedly following His commands, even when inconvenient.
Matthew 22:21Jesus' famous response, 'Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's,' provides the foundational principle for this conflict. It establishes that there are distinct realms of authority, but crucially, God's authority is supreme, a truth Peter and John are living out.
barnesActs 4:19: "But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye."
Whether it be right ... - The apostles abated nothing of their boldness when threatened. They openly appealed to their judges whether their command could be right. And in doing this, they expressed their full conviction of the truth of what they had said, and their deliberate purpose not to regard their command, but still to proclaim to the peopl…
meyerActs 4:19: "But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye."
Acts 4:19-22 . Ἐνώπ . τ . Θεοῦ ] coram Deo , God as Judge being conceived as present: “multa mundus pro justis habet, quae coram Deo non sunt justa,” Bengel. We may add, that the maxim here expressed (founded on Matthew 22:21 ) takes for granted two things as certain; on the one hand, that something is really commanded by God; and, on the other h…
Peter and John turn the tables by asking their accusers to judge not by human standards, but by God's. This isn't just about obedience; it's about recognizing whose authority is ultimate, even for those who claim to represent God.
Peter and John have just healed a man who was lame from birth, causing a huge stir among the crowds. Now, the religious authorities, including the priests and elders, have arrested them, demanding to know by what power or name they performed this miracle. They're not interested in God's power; they're worried about their own authority being undermined and want Peter and John to stop preaching about Jesus altogether.
Peter and John have just healed a man who was lame from birth, causing a huge stir among the crowds. Now, the religious authorities, including the priests and elders, have arrested them, demanding to know by what power or name they performed this miracle. They're not interested in God's power; they're worried about their own authority being undermined and want Peter and John to stop preaching about Jesus altogether.
"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," — Peter and John turn the tables by asking their accusers to judge not by human standards, but by God's. This isn't just about obedience; it's about recognizing whose authority is ultimate, even for th…
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Last reviewed October 2026