19 But Peter and John replied, "Which is right in God's eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges!
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.
19 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,
19 But Peter and John spoke right back, "Whether it's right in God's eyes to listen to you rather than to God, you decide.
19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.
19 But Peter and John replied, "Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him?
29 Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than human beings!
29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
29 But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men.
29 Peter and the apostles answered, "It's necessary to obey God rather than men.
29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men.
29 But Peter and the apostles replied, "We must obey God rather than any human authority.
(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.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Acts 4:19
Commentary on Acts 4:15-22
(Read Acts 4:15-22)
All the care of the rulers is, that the doctrine of Christ spread not among the people, yet they cannot say it is false or dangerous, or of any ill tendency; and they are ashamed to own the true reason; that it testifies against their hypocrisy, wickedness, and tyranny. Those who know how to put a just value upon Christ's promises, know how to put just contempt upon the world's threatenings. The apostles look with concern on perishing souls, and know they cannot escape eternal ruin but by Jesus Christ, therefore they are faithful in warning, and showing the right way. None will enjoy peace of mind, nor act uprightly, till they have learned to guide their conduct by the fixed standard of truth, and not by the shifting opinions and fancies of men. Especially beware of a vain attempt to serve two masters, God and the world; the end will be, you can serve neither fully.