Act 4:13 When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and discovered that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized these men had been with Jesus.
Act 4:14 And because they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say against this.
Act 4:15 But when they had ordered them to go outside the council, they began to confer with one another,
Act 4:16 saying, “What should we do with these men? For it is plain to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable miraculous sign has come about through them, and we cannot deny it.
Act 4:17 But to keep this matter from spreading any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.”
Act 4:18 And they called them in and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
Act 4:19 But Peter and John replied, “Whether it is right before God to obey you rather than God, you decide,
Act 4:20 for it is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.”
In this passage we see the disciples confronted by the religious rulers of the day. The civil and religious authorities command the apostles to speak no more about Jesus. In response Peter and John refuse saying that they would rather obey God rather than them. The apostles wouldn’t have broken any moral law by not speaking about Jesus, they just knew it was important to follow Christ’s direction. Sometimes obedience to Christ requires that we are disobedient to our leaders.