“And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.”
'We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him' - the apostles ground their testimony in dual witness: human testimony and the Spirit's testimony. The 'Holy Spirit' (to pneuma to hagion) is given to 'those who obey him' (tois peitharchountsin autō), linking the Spirit's presence to obedience. This is a subtle challenge to the Sanhedrin: if you are not experiencing the Spirit, it is because you are not obeying.
Church Fathers on Acts 5:32
And we are witnesses of these things. Acts 5:32 Great boldness of speech! And the ground of their credibility: And so is also the Holy Ghost, Whom God has given to them that obey Him. Do you observe that they allege not only the Spirit's testimony? And they said not, Whom He has given to us, but, to them that obey Him: therein alike showing their own unassuming temper, and intimating the greatness of the gift, and showing the hearers that it was possible for them also to…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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