The authorities had commanded the apostles not to speak in the name of Jesus, but the apostles took their orders from a much higher power. We must obey God rather than men, they said. The Bible tells us, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God.” (Romans 13:1) There was a conflict. What are you to do when government commands you in some law that is in violation of the law of God?
Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego were commanded to bow before the idol Nebuchadnezzar had set up. They refused to bow and were cast into a furnace of fire. They were right to keep the law of God and suffer the consequences of disobedience to man. They were subject to the higher powers. Likewise, Daniel was commanded by the laws of man to bow and pray before Darius the king only, otherwise he would be cast into a den of lions. Daniel was willing to suffer the consequences of disobedience to the laws of man while keeping the law of God. In both instances the servants of God remained true to God and willing to suffer the consequences of disobeying man’s law.
In Hebrews eleven there are many references of martyrs who obeyed God but disobeyed laws that were in violation of the laws of God.
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