Bible Readings — Bible Questions Answered

God’s Commands Vs. Man’s

What parting command did Christ give His disciples? BR-ASI9 330.8

“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15. BR-ASI9 330.9

What countercommand did the Jews soon give them? BR-ASI9 330.10

“And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.” Acts 4:18. BR-ASI9 330.11

What reply did Peter and John make? BR-ASI9 330.12

“Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:19, 20. BR-ASI9 330.13

For continuing to preach, what befell the apostles? BR-ASI9 330.14

“Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.” Acts 5:17, 18. BR-ASI9 330.15

What did an angel of God then do? BR-ASI9 330.16

“But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.” Acts 5:19, 20. BR-ASI9 330.17

Note.—Here once again is demonstrated the fact that men have no right to interfere with the free exercise of religion, and that when the laws of men conflict with the law and word of God, we are to obey the latter, whatever the consequences may be. BR-ASI9 330.18

When the apostles were called before the council again, what question did the high priest ask them? BR-ASI9 331.1

“Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” Acts 5:28. BR-ASI9 331.2

What reply did the apostles make? BR-ASI9 331.3

“We ought to obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29. BR-ASI9 331.4

Note.—“Obedience is to be rendered to all human governments, in subordination to the will of God. These governments are a recognized necessity, . . . and their existence is manifestly in accordance with the divine will. Hence the presumption is always in favor of the authority of civil law; and any refusal to obey, must be based on the moral proof that obedience will be sin. . . . ‘we ought to obey God rather than men,’ in any case of conflict between human law and the divine.”—James H. Fairchild, Moral Philosophy (1869 ed.), pp. 178-181. BR-ASI9 331.5

Because Mordecai refused to bow down to Haman, what decree did Haman succeed in having the king issue? BR-ASI9 331.6

“And the letters were sent by posts into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.” Esther 3:13. BR-ASI9 331.7

Note.—God has placed the sword (civil authority) in the hands of Caesar (civil government) for the punishment of evildoers; but when the sword is raised to slay the innocent, as in the case of the children of Bethlehem (Matthew 2:16); or to enforce idolatrous worship, as in the case of the three Hebrews (Daniel 3); or to prohibit the worship of the true God, as in the case of Daniel (Daniel 6); or to slay all God’s people, as in the time of Esther; or to enforce the observance of a false sabbath, as in the case of all Sunday laws, it is an abuse of civil authority, and not a proper or justifiable use of it; and God honors those who, under such circumstances, in the face of persecution, oppression, and death, remain loyal and true to Him. BR-ASI9 331.8

God is above all earthly rulers, and His law above all human laws. He made us, and we therefore owe allegiance to Him before any earthly power, potentate, or tribunal. BR-ASI9 331.9