We Must Obey God — The Risen Jesus Changes Everything

Text: Acts 5:27–32

Claim (of the passage)

The risen Jesus reigns as Saviour and Lord, and therefore his people must obey God rather than men, boldly bearing witness to him.

Focus (of the sermon)

Because Jesus is alive and exalted, we must obey him and speak of him, whatever the cost.

Function (for the congregation)

To strengthen believers to courageously obey and witness to Christ in a world that resists him.

Introduction (Lowry Loop — Oops)

Easter Sunday has just passed.

We’ve celebrated:

Christ crucified

Christ risen

Christ victorious

But here’s the question:

What difference does Easter actually make on Monday morning?

Because it’s one thing to sing:

“Christ is risen!”

It’s another thing to live:

“Christ is Lord.”

And that’s exactly where Acts 5 takes us.

The apostles aren’t in a comfortable church service.

They’re in court. On trial. Facing the most powerful religious authorities in the land.

And the issue is simple:

“Will you stop speaking about Jesus?”

1. The Pressure: Silence the Name of Jesus (v27–28)

“The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin… ‘We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name… Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching…’”

This is not a gentle suggestion.

This is authority. Power. Threat.

The Sanhedrin:

controlled religious life

had influence over civil authority

had already been involved in Jesus’ death

And notice what they say:

“not to teach in this name”

They won’t even say Jesus’ name.

Why?

Because the name represents authority.

To speak his name is to say:

He is alive

He is Lord

You were wrong

And that’s what they cannot tolerate.

The real issue

This is not about:

noise

public order

religious preference

This is about authority.

Who is in charge?

The Sanhedrin?

Or the risen Jesus?

Application

Nothing has changed.

Our culture may not drag us into court (yet), but it still says:

“You can believe what you like… just don’t say Jesus is the only way.”

Don’t say sin is real

Don’t say repentance is needed

Don’t say Jesus is Lord

In other words:

“Keep your faith private.”

2. The Principle: Obey God Rather Than Men (v29)

“Peter and the other apostles replied: ‘We must obey God rather than human beings!’”

This is one of the clearest, boldest statements in the New Testament.

Not:

“We prefer to obey God”

“We feel called to obey God”

But:

“We must.”

Why “must”?

Because of who Jesus is.

Easter has changed everything.

If Jesus is risen, then:

he is alive

he is reigning

he has authority

So obedience is not optional.

Important clarification (Reformed emphasis)

This is not rebellion against all authority.

The Bible is clear:

submit to governing authorities (Romans 13)

honour leaders

But:

When human authority commands what God forbids, or forbids what God commands—

we must obey God.

What was God commanding?

Jesus had already said:

“You will be my witnesses…” (Acts 1:8)

So when they’re told:

“Stop speaking”

They are being told:

“Disobey Jesus.”

And that is impossible.

Application

Where does this land for us?

When truth is unpopular

When speaking about Jesus is awkward

When obedience costs us socially, professionally, relationally

The question is:

Who will you obey?

3. The Message: The God They Opposed Has Acted (v30–31)

Now notice what Peter does.

He doesn’t just defend himself.

He preaches the gospel.

(a) God raised Jesus (v30)

“The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross.”

This is bold.

To the very people responsible, he says:

You killed him

God raised him

This is classic apostolic preaching:

human guilt

divine vindication

Redemptive-historical significance

This is not just:

“Jesus came back to life.”

This is:

God has declared Jesus to be the true King.

The resurrection is:

God overturning human judgment

God vindicating his Son

God beginning the new creation

(b) God exalted Jesus (v31)

“God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Saviour…”

This is the language of:

kingship (Prince)

salvation (Saviour)

Jesus is not just alive.

He is enthroned.

And what does he give?

“…that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins.”

This is crucial.

Even for the people who killed him:

Repentance is offered

Forgiveness is available

This is stunning grace

The very people who rejected Jesus are now invited to be saved by him.

Application

This shapes how we speak:

We don’t say:

“You’re fine as you are”

We say:

You need to repent

You can be forgiven

Because Jesus:

exposes sin

offers grace

4. The Witness: Spirit-Empowered Testimony (v32)

“We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

(a) The apostles are witnesses

They are not:

philosophers

inventors

religious thinkers

They are eyewitnesses.

They have seen:

the risen Christ

the empty tomb

the ascended Lord

(b) The Spirit is also a witness

This is vital.

Their boldness is not personality-driven.

It is Spirit-empowered.

The Holy Spirit:

confirms the truth

empowers the message

works in hearts

Connection to Easter

Easter is not just:

an event to remember

It is the beginning of:

a mission empowered by the Spirit

Application

You might think:

“I’m not bold like Peter.”

That’s fine.

Neither was Peter—before the Spirit.

The same Spirit:

lives in believers

empowers witness

strengthens obedience

Conclusion (Whee → Yeah)

So what does Easter mean for us now?

It means:

Jesus is alive

Jesus is reigning

Jesus is saving

And therefore:

We must obey God rather than men.

Three takeaways

Jesus is Lord — not cultureHis authority is ultimate.

The gospel must be spoken — not hiddenSilence is not obedience.

The Spirit will help — you are not aloneThis mission is God’s work.

Final challenge

Where are you tempted to stay silent?

At work?

With friends?

In family conversations?

This week:

What would it look like to obey God rather than men?

Final encouragement

The same Jesus who:

died

rose

reigns

Is the one who:

gives repentance

grants forgiveness

sends his Spirit

So you are not just commanded—

You are equipped.

Closing Sentence (for musicians)

Because the risen Jesus reigns as Saviour and Lord, we must obey him and boldly speak of him, trusting the Spirit to work through us.

If you’d like, I can now:

tighten this to a strict 25-minute version

add Lowry Loop markers more explicitly

or suggest songs (CityAlight / Getty / kids options for post-Easter tone)