26 The chief and his police went and got them, but they handled them gently, fearful that the people would riot and turn on them. 27 Bringing them back, they stood them before the High Council. The Chief Priest said, 28 "Didn't we give you strict orders not to teach in Jesus' name? And here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are trying your best to blame us for the death of this man." 29 Peter and the apostles answered, "It's necessary to obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, the One you killed by hanging him on a cross. 31 God set him on high at his side, Prince and Savior, to give Israel the gift of a changed life and sins forgiven. 32 And we are witnesses to these things. The Holy Spirit, whom God gives to those who obey him, corroborates every detail." 33 When they heard that, they were furious and wanted to kill them on the spot.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Acts 5:26-33
Commentary on Acts 5:26-33
(Read Acts 5:26-33)
Many will do an evil thing with daring, yet cannot bear to hear of it afterward, or to have it charged upon them. We cannot expect to be redeemed and healed by Christ, unless we give up ourselves to be ruled by him. Faith takes the Saviour in all his offices, who came, not to save us in our sins, but to save us from our sins. Had Christ been exalted to give dominion to Israel, the chief priests would have welcomed him. But repentance and remission of sins are blessings they neither valued nor saw their need of; therefore they, by no means, admitted his doctrine. Wherever repentance is wrought, remission is granted without fail. None are freed from the guilt and punishment of sin, but those who are freed from the power and dominion of sin; who are turned from it, and turned against it. Christ gives repentance, by his Spirit working with the word, to awaken the conscience, to work sorrow for sin, and an effectual change in the heart and life. The giving of the Holy Ghost, is plain evidence that it is the will of God that Christ should be obeyed. And He will surely destroy those who will not have Him to reign over them.