Acts 4–5

Obeying God Rather Than Man

Peter and John were arrested and imprisoned for healing and testifying in the name of Jesus Christ. They were later released and instructed to not speak or teach in His name. Yet Peter and John continued to testify of Jesus Christ, and they were again arrested and imprisoned. An angel delivered them from prison and told them to return and continue preaching of Christ, which they did. Jewish leaders had them arrested again and beaten. The leaders commanded them to stop preaching of Christ, but Peter and John replied that they ought to obey God rather than people. Peter and John rejoiced that they were able to suffer persecution for Jesus Christ. As you study today, think about how you can increase your desire to obey God over anyone else.

Emphasize the example of Jesus Christ. Even when events in the scriptures do not directly refer to the Savior, you can still point your students to Him by helping them see how He exemplifies the principle being taught.

Student preparation: Invite students to come prepared to share situations where it might be challenging to obey God because of pressures from others.

Possible Learning Activities

Standing up for what is right

Display the following questions. Invite students to reflect on their preparation for class and then discuss the questions together. Consider listing students’ responses to the first question on the board. It may be helpful to refer to these responses later in the lesson.

What are some situations where it might be challenging for you or others to obey God because of pressures from others?
What makes these situations difficult?

President Thomas S. Monson (1927–2018) said:

As we go about living from day to day, it is almost inevitable that our faith will be challenged. We may at times find ourselves surrounded by others and yet standing in the minority or even standing alone concerning what is acceptable and what is not. Do we have the moral courage to stand firm for our beliefs, even if by so doing we must stand alone?

(Thomas S. Monson, “Dare to Stand Alone,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 60)

Respond to the following questions in your study journal:

How would you rate your willingness to obey God rather than giving in to pressures from others?
What are some future situations where you may have to choose to obey God rather than others?

As you study this lesson, look for truths and examples that can help you feel an increased desire to obey God over anyone else.

Peter and John are arrested for preaching and healing in the name of Jesus Christ

Peter and John faced situations where they had to choose between obeying God or giving in to pressure from others. After healing a lame man at the temple and preaching in Jesus Christ’s name, Peter and John were arrested, imprisoned, and questioned by Jewish leaders (see Acts 3:1–11; 4:1–7).

Read Acts 4:8–21, looking for how Peter and John responded in this situation. Consider marking words or phrases in these verses that you feel are significant or that inspire you to choose to obey God above all else. You may want to watch “Peter and John Are Judged” (2:51), available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org, while you follow along in your scriptures.

2:51

What words or phrases stood out to you from these verses? Why?

Consider what activity would best help students to learn the gospel truths taught in Acts 5:12–32. Students could be assigned to read the words of different people in this scripture account. Students could be assigned to be a narrator, the angel, the soldier, Peter, and the high priest. Alternatively, students could watch the video below to see what happens next.

Read Acts 5:12–32 and continue your study of this account. You might want to consider marking any doctrine, principles, or phrases that feel significant to you. Or you could watch “Peter and John Continue Preaching the Gospel” until time code 3:51. Read Acts 5:12–32 and continue your study of this account. You might want to consider marking any doctrine, principles, or phrases that feel significant to you. Or you could watch “Peter and John Continue Preaching the Gospel” until time code 3:51.

5:38

What did you find?
What truths did you learn from this account?

Encourage the students to identify principles in their own words and to write them on the board.

One of the truths we can learn from this account is that if we choose to obey God rather than fearing others, then He will be with us.

Think about the situations you identified at the beginning of the lesson where it might be challenging to obey God because of pressure from others.

What are some blessings that we can receive by obeying God rather than fearing others?
What do you know about God that gives you confidence to follow Him—even when you are pressured by others not to?

If students need help with the following questions, share examples from the Savior’s life located in the “Commentary and Background Information” section as recommended in the teacher tip. Other examples are in the supplemental learning activity titled “Inspiring stories.”

When have you or others seen the wisdom in obeying God rather than fearing others? (You could also identify examples from the Savior’s life.)

A modern example

Elder Thierry K. Mutombo of the Seventy shared an example of a family who chose to obey God rather than people. To listen this account, watch “Ye Shall Be Free,” available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org, from time code 6:43 to 8:51.

9:53

What impressed you most about how this family responded to their challenges?
Why do you think the family’s faith in Jesus Christ was so important in this situation?

Peter and John are released

The Jewish leaders discussed what to do with Peter and John. A highly respected Jewish leader named Gamaliel encouraged them to let Peter and John go because he recognized that if Peter and John truly were doing the work of God, the Jewish leaders would not be able to stop it (see Acts 5:29–39).

Read Acts 5:40–42, and consider marking words or phrases that describe how Peter and John felt after experiencing what they did.

What did you learn today that inspires you to obey Heavenly Father rather than people?

Commentary and Background Information

What if I don’t fit in because I choose to obey Heavenly Father?

Elder Richard G. Scott (1928–2015) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

At times you may feel lonely and misunderstood—I have—because you don’t fit in with the crowd. Be grateful that your righteous life molds you so that you don’t fit where you don’t belong. This is a temporary period of personal testing and growth. It will be replaced in time with true friends and greater happiness.

(Richard G. Scott, “The Power of Righteousness,” Ensign, Nov 1998, 68)

How should I defend my beliefs?

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained:

Be strong. Live the gospel faithfully even if others around you don’t live it at all. Defend your beliefs with courtesy and with compassion, but defend them.

(Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Cost—and Blessings—of Discipleship,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 9)

How did the Savior show He obeyed Heavenly Father over people?

The following Bible videos illustrate the Savior’s desire to serve God rather than follow the ideas of people.

Watch “Jesus Forgives Sins and Heals a Man Stricken with Palsy” (2:57) to see how the Savior showed His power and willingness to forgive sin when others questioned it.

2:57

Watch “Jesus Heals A Lame Man on the Sabbath” (2:23) to see how the Savior healed a man even when Jewish leaders thought it was inappropriate conduct for the Sabbath.

2:23

Watch “Go and Sin No More” (3:21) to see how the Savior did not condemn another even when others pressured Him to do so.

3:21

Supplemental Learning Activities

Becoming like the Savior through living the law of consecration

In Acts 4:31–5:11, we learn that the Saints at that time lived the law of consecration. Invite students to study “Consecrate, Law of Consecration” in the Guide to the Scriptures (scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org) or the Church History Topics article “Consecration and Stewardship” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org/study/history/topics) to better understand what the law of consecration is. They could then compare these explanations with the accounts in Acts 2:41–47; Acts 4:31–37; and Acts 5:1–11. They could also review Moses 7:18 and 4 Nephi 1:1–18. Invite students to consider how living this law helps us to become like the Savior and show His love to others.

Honesty and keeping our covenants

Students may benefit from studying the account of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1–11, which illustrates the importance of honesty and keeping our covenants with God. Church members during this time were living the law of consecration (see the preceding activity).

While we do not understand why the consequences were so severe in this case, we do know the serious nature of breaking covenants with God (see Romans 6:16, 23; Doctrine and Covenants 78:11–12). Students could also study some or all of the talk by Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles titled “Standing by Our Promises and Covenants” (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2019, 53–56). Consider asking them questions such as these: “How does being honest and keeping covenants help us become like God?” and “What difference does it make in families and in communities when we keep our covenants?”

Fearing God more than man

Students could benefit by comparing the example of the ancient Apostles in Acts 4:8–12, 18–21 and 5:17–32 with the account of the Prophet Joseph Smith giving in to Martin Harris’s desires to show the 116-page manuscript of the Book of Mormon to others. Students could study Doctrine and Covenants 3:1–11 to read the Lord’s counsel and warnings, as well as His mercy in verse 10. This account could help students understand that even when they make mistakes, the Lord will help, support, and forgive them if they are willing to repent.

Inspiring stories

Invite students to create a list of stories that can inspire people to obey God no matter the circumstances. They could include the story from this lesson, experiences from their own lives, or accounts from the scriptures. The sources below may be helpful:

The Savior and the woman taken in adultery (see John 8:1–11)
Joseph Smith in jail in Richmond, Missouri (see Saints: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days, vol. 1, The Standard of Truth, 1815–1846 [2018], 366–68)

Give students a few minutes to share their lists with one another or with the class. Consider sharing personal examples that would inspire them as well.