ContradictionsReading order 141Bible context 2 min read

Should we obey human or divine law?

Acts authorizes choosing God over human demands, while the letters broadly identify submission to rulers with obedience to God.

Textual conflict: Interpretive tension; The passages pull in different directions, but the conflict depends on how their wording, scope, or narrative context is read.
Importance: Foundational; A central claim about origins, salvation, divine justice, or religious authority.

Divine priority permits resisting human commands where broad obedience-to-rulers language condemns resistance, with authority scope left unresolved.

An editorial assessment of the quoted passages. Importance describes the stakes; it does not increase certainty. Reading order weighs both.

The apostles give obedience to God priority over human commands

Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

Acts 5:29

Translation / edition: King James Version (KJV)

Read the full chapter:Acts 5

Believers must submit to human rulers as God's authorities

Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;

1 Peter 2:13

Translation / edition: King James Version (KJV)

Read the full chapter:1 Peter 2

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

Romans 13:1-4

Translation / edition: King James Version (KJV)

Read the full chapter:Romans 13

Understanding the contradiction

Acts 5:29 has Peter and the apostles state that they ought to obey God rather than people. The formula recognizes a possible conflict and gives divine demands priority. It does not reject every human law merely because humans issue it.

1 Peter 2:13 commands submission to every human ordinance for the Lord's sake. Romans 13:1-4 goes further, treating rulers as ordained by God and resistance to their power as resistance to God's ordinance. The tension arises when an authority issues a demand the believer judges contrary to God. Acts' rule permits resistance at precisely the point where Romans' unrestricted description condemns it. The excerpts do not state a shared exception delimiting legitimate disobedience.

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contradictionActs1 PeterRomans

The apostles give obedience to God priority over human commands

Believers must submit to human rulers as God's authorities

Understanding the contradiction

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