Obedience to God Rather than Man
E. P. Hammond. Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. A stern father one day, when he came home from his business, heard a noise as if some one were talking in his little boy's room. He asked his wife what it was. She told him it was Johnnie praying. This made him angry. He told his little son, in a decided tone, that if he dared to do it again he must leave the house and find another home. Like Daniel, dear Johnnie knew all he must suffer; but he determined to keep on praying. The next day his father came home and found him praying again. He went at once to his little room, and in a gruff voice said, "Pack up your things and be off. I'll not have any of your praying in my house. You shall not live with me." And so the poor fellow packed up the little that was his, and took his bundle and walked downstairs to say "goodbye." He went first to his mother and sister, and gave them the "good-bye" kiss; and then, with a full heart, he leaned over the cradle and pressed his quivering lips to those of the little one he loved so much. His mother stood by weeping. How could he part with her? At last, throwing his arms around her neck, and with tears in his eyes, he sobbed, "Good-bye, mother!" And then the little hero turned kindly to his stern father, and, holding out his hand, said, "Good-bye, father." But the father could not bear it any longer. He could not keep the hot tears from his eyes. No, he could not, after all, drive away his noble boy. "Johnnie, you need not go now. Pray for me. I have been a wicked man to try to keep you from praying. I was wrong; you were right in praying. Oh, pray for reel" was all he could say. And Johnnie did pray. Yes, and the father prayed too. He became a converted man, and loved, with his family, to bow before the mercy-seat. (E. P. Hammond.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. WEB: But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men.