Introduction

I shouldn't have much trouble keeping you awake today! Since the word prison brings to mind such topics as crime, victims' rights, vigilantee justice, and jailed demonstrators, I have little doubt that most of us have strong feelings and opinions on these and related issues.The most famous line in our text for today brings into particular focus the issue of civil disobedience for the sake of conscience. Having miraculously escaped from prison where they had been placed for disobeying the order not to teach in the name of Jesus, the apostles again find themselves in court. Their famous answer to the charge? "We must obey God rather than men." (Acts 5:29)

A preacher finally confronted one of his parishioners who always slept through his sermons. "You shouldn't take it as an insult…