[Intro – soft piano + acoustic guitar, double bass enters bar 3] (Baritone solo, intimate) In the streets of Jerusalem, mercy was moving Broken hearts and bodies made whole By the name above every name [Verse 1 – baritone solo] Hands laid gently, wonders unfolding Crowds gathering, faith in their eyes Hope rising like morning over sorrow Every soul hearing truth come alive They brought the sick into the shadows “Maybe Peter will pass this way” And every chain of darkness was broken Not one was turned away [Pre-Chorus – light quartet hum enters] But jealousy stirred in the silence Hearts hardened, filled with rage [Chorus – ALL MALE QUARTET, no soloist] (Strong, blended, Southern Gospel harmony) We ought to obey God rather than men Lift up the name that saves Though chains may bind and voices threaten Truth will not be chained Prince and Savior, risen and reigning Forgiveness flows again We stand as witnesses, unashamed We obey God, not men [Verse 2 – baritone solo, slightly stronger delivery] Locked in the night, guarded and hopeless Stones and iron sealed the door But heaven moved in quiet power They were prisoners no more “Go and stand in the temple speaking All the words of life again” At the break of dawn they kept on preaching They would not bow to men [Pre-Chorus – quartet builds softly] Confusion filled the halls of power Empty cells, yet truth proclaimed [Chorus – ALL MALE QUARTET] We ought to obey God rather than men Lift up the name that saves Though chains may bind and voices threaten Truth will not be chained Prince and Savior, risen and reigning Forgiveness flows again We stand as witnesses, unashamed We obey God, not men [Bridge – baritone lead, quartet pads underneath] (Beaten but rejoicing tone) Counted worthy to suffer for His name No fear could silence praise Day by day, in every house Jesus Christ proclaimed (Quartet swells) Greater is the One within us Than the fear that tries to stay We will walk in holy courage We will choose His way [Break – piano + bass only, intimate drop] (Baritone, almost spoken-sung) From prison into freedom From darkness into light The truth is still alive in us We will stand and testify [Final Chorus – key change up, FULL QUARTET, triumphant but controlled] We ought to obey God rather than men Let every voice be raised No power of hell, no voice of man Can steal His truth away Prince and Savior, ever exalted Forever we proclaim We are His witnesses, bold in faith We obey God, not men (Repeat tag, softer landing) We obey God… not men [Outro – soft piano, acoustic guitar, bass fade] (Baritone, warm and reverent) And daily still, the truth goes on Jesus Christ proclaimed
