When a group of manual laborers publicly criticize the authorities, you know they are either mad or else they have discovered a truth whose power they respect and worship as greater than those authorities. But such defiance comes at a cost, so one should choose one’s worship wisely.

The English Annotations, first published in 1645, were collated, translated, and edited by a team led by John Downame, drawing primarily on Continental Reformed sources. In the answer of Peter and the apostles to the charges of the Sanhedrin (Acts 5:31), the Annotations find a summary of the gospel message, as Jesus is taught to be Lord and Savior.

The Sum of the Gospel: Jesus Is King and Savior

God with his mighty power has established Jesus to be a Prince and Savior. This is the sum of the apostles’ teaching, the ground on which the anchor of the souls of those who shall be saved is moored.

The office of Christ is described by two things. First in that he is a Prince to govern his kingdom, to beat down the rebellious and to protect his servants and subjects. Second in that he is also a Savior, as his name Jesus intimates and as the angel interprets it.

Here Peter reveals the impiety of those who would strive against their Prince and Savior. They are mad who persecute him whom God exalts by his mighty power.

Acts, eds. Esther Chung-Kim and Todd R. Hains, Reformation Commentary on Scripture, NT Vol. VI, p. 68.