Acts 5:27-33 / John 3:31-36
The phrase "obedience to God comes before obedience to man" has been used by saints as well as heretics and schismatics alike.
But while one renewed the Church with their saintly lives and sacrifices, the other divided and tore the Church apart with their slanted and crooked teachings.
Whoever and whatever they were obeying then, it was difficult to tell, but over time, it was obvious who was the saint who listened to God and obeyed God, and who it was who listened to themselves and obeyed themselves.
In the 1st reading, when Peter used the phrase "obedience to God comes before obedience to man" in response to the high priest and the Sanhedrin, they were infuriated and even wanted to put the apostles to death.
In effect, what Peter was saying is that the high priest and the Sanhedrin, who were the highest spiritual authority of Israel, were not listening to God and hence they don't deserved to be obeyed.
We may not have any spiritual authority or earthly authority. But will people listen to what we say, be it about spiritual things or about earthly things?
In the gospel, John the Baptist said that he who is born of the earth is earthly himself and speaks in an earthly way. But he who attests to the truthfulness of God speaks God's own words.
Let us ask God to give us the Spirit so that we will be led to the truth and understand the teachings of the Church and know the will of God and carry out His will in obedience.