John Calvin Commentary Acts 5:28

"saying, We strictly charged you not to teach in this name: and behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man`s blood upon us." — Acts 5:28 (ASV)

The chief priest lays two crimes to the charge of the apostles, for he accuses them of contumacy, or stubbornness, because they did not obey the decree of the council. In the second charge, he betrays an evil conscience, or, at least, he shows that he was handling a private matter rather than any public cause, for he complains that the apostles will cause the priests and the scribes to be hated for the death of Christ.

See, therefore, what it is that troubles them: they fear the revenge and punishment for wicked murder. At first, he feigns concern for doctrine; but we may gather from the outcome that he was not so concerned about doctrine. Meanwhile, he accuses the apostles of sedition, for he assumes as true what most people generally granted: that Christ was put to death justly. Nevertheless, this is the principal point of the accusation: that they did not obey the commandment of the priests. It was a heinous offense not to obey the chief priest; how much more heinous was it, then, to despise the whole order?

But the chief priest does not consider his duty towards God and the Church; he abuses his authority tyrannously, as if it were not under any laws, just as the Pope deals with us in our day. For since he takes to himself an unbridled authority and government, he does not fear to condemn us as schismatics as soon as he sees us refuse his decrees. He seizes upon these sentences: He which despiseth you despiseth me, (Luke 10:16), and from this he concludes that we will rebel against God. But if he wishes to be heard as the ambassador of Christ, he must speak from the mouth of Christ.

Now, since he manifestly plays the minister of Satan, he borrows authority shamelessly and without pretext from the name of Christ. Indeed, the very form of speech which the chief priest uses proves how carelessly spiritual tyrants, who usurp authority and lordship not subject to the Word of God, dare to grant themselves liberty to attempt whatever pleases them. “With a command,” he says, “have we commanded.” From where does such strict rigor come, if not from their belief that everything they command must be received without exception?