Monday, July 1: Acts 5:27–32 (5th Sunday A. Trinity)
Th e Apostles were placed in a difficult situation. Th e council which was censuring them was chaired by religious and political authorities, including Pharisees, Sadducees, and the high priest. Th e authorities were appointed by God and thus were owed honor and obedience. Jesus declared on one occasion: “Th e scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat” (Matt. 23:2). Also, St. Paul writes: “whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God” (Rom. 13:2). When the council commanded the Apostles to cease teaching the name of Jesus, they were causing the Apostles to make a choice between two ordinances of God. Th e Apostles were not disturbed by this conflict. They knew that when the decrees of men contradict the decrees of God, “We ought to obey God rather than men.”
Continue Reading