The authorities decided to forbid the apostles to speak or teach any more in the name of Jesus (Acts 4:18 ). The answer of Peter and John was a heroic refusal of unlawful obedience:

Acts 4:19-20 "... 'Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.'"

Spirit-filled worshipers need to live out the principle of obedience; being set apart to worshipful obedience of God. The Holy Spirit, through the apostles, states the limits of obedience to civil and ecclesiastical authorities. The line is clearly drawn for us. This principle must be understood to qualify the factual teachings of Paul.

Romans 13:1-2 "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves."

Now, it is when the authorities claim obedience which can only be given by directly disobeying God who has appointed them, that they are no longer God's ministers, and the duty of allegiance falls away. There is no licence here for individuals or groups to make themselves a law unto themselves, and throw off all restraint from God-given authority. Remember, Peter and John were not guided by their own whims and fancies; neither were they acting without authority -far from it. They were under direct orders from the risen Lord, commissioned by Him to be witnesses of His death, resurrection, enthronement, and His returning again. Further, that witness was to commence in the very place (Jerusalem) that the authorities were forbidding (Acts 1:8 ). Spirit-filled people dare not come out from under God-given authority, and the principle before us can only be acted upon in obedience to the higher and direct authority of God.