Act 5:30 | KingComments | STEP | The response of Peter and the other apostles is rather a statement of facts than giving a testimony. The rulers are clearly opposed to God, yet there is no pride or self-will among the apostles. It is about obeying God. They begin their answer with being obedient ( ) and they also finish with that ). The high priest and his people are to them no more than “men”. The apostles resolutely reject the charge of disobedience. They no longer leave it to the conscience of the rulers to decide whom they should obey more, but state that “we”, that is everyone, must obey God more than people. That is why they have acted as they have done, no more and no less. Then they become the prosecutor. They still take their place in the midst of Israel when they speak of “the God of our fathers”. Aptly and compactly, and because of that also penetratingly, they confront the actions of God toward the Lord Jesus with those of these leaders. God raised Him up, while they killed Him by hanging Him on a cross. Death on the cross is the Roman form of execution, but they attribute this act to this Jewish company. Nor do they speak of ‘crucifixion’, but of ‘hanging Him on a cross’. By doing so, they emphasize that they labeled Christ a cursed by God ( ; ). But Him Whom they labeled and treated as such, has been given all glory due to Him by God. They as false leaders disdain Him as a Prince, but to God He is the Superior Prince ( ; ). They as cursers of the people ( ) reject Him as Savior, but to God He is the Savior. God has exalted Him in heaven through His right hand. He lives in glory, where all the pleasure of God rests on Him. God has exalted Him to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. So another period of grace is added to the period that has been and in which Israel has not made use of that grace. Both repentance and forgiveness are seen here as gifts from God and are still being offered to the people. All people who have come to faith in the Lord Jesus have also received this gift. Yet the people as a whole, represented in their leaders, have rejected Him again. Peter and the apostles do not say things they have heard, but they have experienced and lived it themselves. From witnesses one can expect nothing but that they speak the truth (cf. ). The apostles are witnesses and the Holy Spirit is Witness. It is a double witness and not only that the Holy Spirit witnesses through the apostles. The presence of the Holy Spirit on earth is a witness in itself ( ). This Holy Spirit has been given by God to all who obey Him. Here the gift of the Holy Spirit is connected to the responsibility of man. Obeying is not the keeping of the law, but the obedience of faith, which is to obey God’s command to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus ( ). He who believes the gospel of his salvation receives the Holy Spirit ( ).

‏ Acts 5:30

Testimony of Peter and the Apostles

The response of Peter and the other apostles is rather a statement of facts than giving a testimony. The rulers are clearly opposed to God, yet there is no pride or self-will among the apostles. It is about obeying God. They begin their answer with being obedient (Acts 5:29) and they also finish with that Acts 5:32).

The high priest and his people are to them no more than “men”. The apostles resolutely reject the charge of disobedience. They no longer leave it to the conscience of the rulers to decide whom they should obey more, but state that “we”, that is everyone, must obey God more than people. That is why they have acted as they have done, no more and no less.

Then they become the prosecutor. They still take their place in the midst of Israel when they speak of “the God of our fathers”. Aptly and compactly, and because of that also penetratingly, they confront the actions of God toward the Lord Jesus with those of these leaders. God raised Him up, while they killed Him by hanging Him on a cross. Death on the cross is the Roman form of execution, but they attribute this act to this Jewish company. Nor do they speak of ‘crucifixion’, but of ‘hanging Him on a cross’. By doing so, they emphasize that they labeled Christ a cursed by God (Deu 21:23; Gal 3:13).

But Him Whom they labeled and treated as such, has been given all glory due to Him by God. They as false leaders disdain Him as a Prince, but to God He is the Superior Prince (Acts 3:15; Heb 2:10 ; Heb 12:2). They as cursers of the people (Jn 7:49) reject Him as Savior, but to God He is the Savior. God has exalted Him in heaven through His right hand. He lives in glory, where all the pleasure of God rests on Him.

God has exalted Him to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. So another period of grace is added to the period that has been and in which Israel has not made use of that grace. Both repentance and forgiveness are seen here as gifts from God and are still being offered to the people. All people who have come to faith in the Lord Jesus have also received this gift. Yet the people as a whole, represented in their leaders, have rejected Him again.

Peter and the apostles do not say things they have heard, but they have experienced and lived it themselves. From witnesses one can expect nothing but that they speak the truth (cf. Jn 15:26-27). The apostles are witnesses and the Holy Spirit is Witness. It is a double witness and not only that the Holy Spirit witnesses through the apostles.

The presence of the Holy Spirit on earth is a witness in itself (Jn 16:7-11). This Holy Spirit has been given by God to all who obey Him. Here the gift of the Holy Spirit is connected to the responsibility of man. Obeying is not the keeping of the law, but the obedience of faith, which is to obey God’s command to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus (Acts 17:30 ; Acts 16:31). He who believes the gospel of his salvation receives the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13).