Acts 4:1
New International Version
The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people.

New Living Translation
While Peter and John were speaking to the people, they were confronted by the priests, the captain of the Temple guard, and some of the Sadducees.

English Standard Version
And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,

Berean Standard Bible
While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them,

Berean Literal Bible
And of them speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,

King James Bible
And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,

New King James Version
Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them,

New American Standard Bible
As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them,

NASB 1995
As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them,

NASB 1977
And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees, came upon them,

Legacy Standard Bible
Now as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them,

Amplified Bible
And while Peter and John were talking to the people, the priests and the captain [who was in charge of the temple area and] of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them,

Christian Standard Bible
While they were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple police, and the Sadducees confronted them,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Now as they were speaking to the people, the priests, the commander of the temple police, and the Sadducees confronted them,

American Standard Version
And as they spake unto the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,

Contemporary English Version
The apostles were still talking to the people, when some priests, the captain of the temple guard, and some Sadducees arrived.

English Revised Version
And as they spake unto the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Some priests, the officer in charge of the temple guards, and some Sadducees approached Peter and John while they were speaking to the people.

Good News Translation
Peter and John were still speaking to the people when some priests, the officer in charge of the Temple guards, and some Sadducees arrived.

International Standard Version
While they were speaking to the people, the priests, the commander of the Temple guards, and the Sadducees came to them.

Majority Standard Bible
While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them,

NET Bible
While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests and the commander of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them,

New Heart English Bible
As they spoke to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came to them,

Webster's Bible Translation
And as they were speaking to the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them,

Weymouth New Testament
While they were saying this to the people, the Priests, the Commander of the Temple Guard, and the Sadducees came upon them,

World English Bible
As they spoke to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came to them,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And as they are speaking to the people, there came to them the priests, and the magistrate of the temple, and the Sadducees—

Berean Literal Bible
And of them speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,

Young's Literal Translation
And as they are speaking unto the people, there came to them the priests, and the magistrate of the temple, and the Sadducees --

Smith's Literal Translation
And they speaking to the people, the priests, and commander of the temple, and the Sadducees, resisted them,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
AND as they were speaking to the people, the priests, and the officer of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,

Catholic Public Domain Version
But while they were speaking to the people, the priests and the magistrate of the temple and the Sadducees overwhelmed them,

New American Bible
While they were still speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees confronted them,

New Revised Standard Version
While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came to them,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
AND while they were speaking these words to the people, the priests and the Sad’du-cees and the leaders of the temple rose up against them,

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And when they were speaking these words to the people, The Priests and The Sadducees and the Rulers of The Temple rose up against them,
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
While they were speaking to the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them,

Godbey New Testament
And they speaking to the people, the priests and captain of the temple and the Sadducees rose up against them,

Haweis New Testament
AND as they were thus speaking, the priests, and the captain of the temple-guard, and the Sadducees, came upon them,

Mace New Testament
While they were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadduces came upon them,

Weymouth New Testament
While they were saying this to the people, the Priests, the Commander of the Temple Guard, and the Sadducees came upon them,

Worrell New Testament
But, as they were speaking to the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,

Worsley New Testament
And while they were speaking to the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the sadducees came upon them,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Peter and John Before the Council
1While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, 2greatly disturbed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.…

Cross References
Acts 5:17-18
Then the high priest and all his associates, who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They went out / and arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.

Luke 20:1-2
One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the gospel, the chief priests and scribes, together with the elders, came up to Him. / “Tell us,” they said, “by what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?”

Matthew 21:23
When Jesus returned to the temple courts and began to teach, the chief priests and elders of the people came up to Him. “By what authority are You doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave You this authority?”

John 18:12
Then the band of soldiers, with its commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him.

Acts 3:11
While the man clung to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and ran to them in the walkway called Solomon’s Colonnade.

Acts 6:12
So they stirred up the people, elders, and scribes and confronted Stephen. They seized him and brought him before the Sanhedrin,

Acts 16:19-20
When the girl’s owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities in the marketplace. / They brought them to the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews and are throwing our city into turmoil

Acts 19:23-24
About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. / It began with a silversmith named Demetrius who made silver shrines of Artemis, bringing much business to the craftsmen.

Acts 22:30
The next day the commander, wanting to learn the real reason Paul was accused by the Jews, released him and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul down and had him stand before them.

Acts 23:1-2
Paul looked directly at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have conducted myself before God in all good conscience to this day.” / At this, the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.

Acts 24:1-2
Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, who presented to the governor their case against Paul. / When Paul had been called in, Tertullus opened the prosecution: “Because of you, we have enjoyed a lasting peace, and your foresight has brought improvements to this nation.

Acts 25:1-2
Three days after his arrival in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem, / where the chief priests and Jewish leaders presented their case against Paul. They urged Festus

Acts 26:30-31
Then the king and the governor rose, along with Bernice and those seated with them. / On their way out, they said to one another, “This man has done nothing worthy of death or imprisonment.”

Nehemiah 2:10
But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were deeply disturbed that someone had come to seek the well-being of the Israelites.

Jeremiah 20:1-2
When Pashhur the priest, the son of Immer and the chief official in the house of the LORD, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things, / he had Jeremiah the prophet beaten and put in the stocks at the Upper Gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD.


Treasury of Scripture

And as they spoke to the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came on them,

the priests.

Acts 4:6
And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.

Acts 6:7,12
And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith…

Matthew 26:3,4
Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, …

the captain.

Acts 5:24,26
Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow…

2 Chronicles 23:4-9
This is the thing that ye shall do; A third part of you entering on the sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, shall be porters of the doors; …

Luke 22:4
And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.

the Sadducees.

Acts 23:6-9
But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question…

Matthew 16:12
Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

Matthew 22:16,23,24
And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men…

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Captain Commander Guard John Magistrate Peter Priests Sadducees Sad'ducees Speaking Talking Temple
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Captain Commander Guard John Magistrate Peter Priests Sadducees Sad'ducees Speaking Talking Temple
Acts 4
1. The rulers of the Jews, offended with Peter's sermon,
3. imprison him and John.
5. After, upon examination
8. Peter boldly avouching the lame man to be healed by the name of Jesus,
11. and that only by the same Jesus we must be eternally saved,
13. they threaten him and John to preach no more in that name,
23. whereupon the church flees to prayer.
31. And God, by moving the place where they were assembled, testifies that he heard their prayer;
34. confirming the church with the gift of the Holy Spirit, and with mutual love and charity.














While Peter and John were speaking to the people
This phrase sets the scene for the unfolding events. Peter and John, two of the foremost apostles, are actively engaged in their mission to spread the Gospel. The Greek word for "speaking" (λαλέω, laleó) implies a continuous action, suggesting that they were in the midst of a passionate and ongoing discourse. This moment follows the miraculous healing of the lame man in Acts 3, which drew a crowd eager to hear their message. The apostles' boldness in proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus is a testament to their transformation by the Holy Spirit, as seen in Acts 2. Historically, this setting is the Temple in Jerusalem, a central place of worship and teaching, making it a strategic location for reaching a large audience.

the priests
The priests were religious leaders responsible for temple rituals and maintaining the spiritual life of the Jewish people. In the context of Acts, they represent the established religious authority, which often found itself at odds with the burgeoning Christian movement. The Greek term for "priests" (ἱερεύς, hiereus) denotes those who perform sacred rites. Their presence indicates the seriousness with which the religious establishment viewed the apostles' activities. The priests' involvement underscores the tension between the old covenant, centered on temple worship, and the new covenant, centered on faith in Christ.

the captain of the temple guard
This figure, known in Greek as the στρατηγός (stratēgos) of the temple, was second in command only to the high priest in terms of temple authority. His role was to maintain order and security within the temple precincts. The presence of the captain highlights the perceived threat that the apostles' message posed to the established order. Historically, the temple guard was a Levitical force tasked with protecting the sanctity of the temple, and their involvement suggests that the apostles' teaching was seen as a disruption to the peace and religious status quo.

and the Sadducees
The Sadducees were a sect of Judaism known for their aristocratic status and their denial of the resurrection, angels, and spirits, as noted in Acts 23:8. Their theological stance put them in direct opposition to the apostles' message, which centered on the resurrection of Jesus. The Greek term Σαδδουκαῖος (Saddoukaios) reflects their historical role as a powerful and influential group within the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council. Their opposition to the apostles is rooted in both theological disagreement and a desire to maintain their socio-political power, which they perceived as threatened by the growing Christian movement.

came up to them
This phrase indicates a direct confrontation. The Greek word προσέρχομαι (proserchomai) suggests an approach with intent, often implying a challenge or opposition. The religious leaders' approach to Peter and John is not merely a casual encounter but a deliberate act to address what they saw as a serious issue. This confrontation is emblematic of the early church's struggles against established religious authorities, as the apostles' message of Jesus' resurrection challenged the very foundations of the leaders' beliefs and authority. This moment foreshadows the persecution that the early Christians would face, as recorded throughout the book of Acts.

IV.

(1) The priests, and the captain of the temple.--For the first time in this book, we come across the chief agents in the condemnation passed on our Lord by the Sanhedrin. A few weeks or months had gone by, and they were congratulating themselves on having followed the advice of Caiaphas (John 11:48). They knew that the body of Jesus had disappeared from the sepulchre, and they industriously circulated the report that the disciples had stolen it (Matthew 28:13-15). They must have heard something of the Day of Pentecost--though there is no evidence of their having been present as spectators or listeners--and of the growth of the new society. Now the two chief members of the company of those disciples were teaching publicly in the very portico of the Temple. What were they to do? The "captain of the Temple" (see Note on Luke 22:4) was the head of the band of Levite sentinels whose function it was to keep guard over the sacred precincts. He, as an inspector, made his round by night, visited all the gates, and roused the slumberers. His presence implied that the quiet order of the Temple was supposed to be endangered. In 2 Maccabees 3:4, however, we have a "captain," or "governor of the Temple" of the tribe of Benjamin.

The Sadducees.--The higher members of the priesthood, Annas and Caiaphas, were themselves of this sect (Acts 5:17). They had already been foremost in urging the condemnation of Christ in the meetings of the Sanhedrin. The shame of having been put to silence by Him (Matthew 22:34) added vindictiveness to the counsels of a calculating policy. Now they found His disciples preaching the truth which they denied, and proclaiming it as attested by the resurrection of Jesus. Throughout the Acts the Sadducees are foremost as persecutors. The Pharisees temporise, like Gamaliel, or profess themselves believers. (Comp. Acts 5:34; Acts 15:5; Acts 23:7.) . . .

Verse 1. - The captain of the temple. Only here and Acts 5:24, and Luke 22:4, 52 in the plural some have thought that the commander of the Roman garrison of the castle of Antonia is here meant. But as the scene is laid in the court of the temple, this is very improbable. Josephus ('Ant. Jud.,' 20, 6:2) speaks of an officer apparently of the temple, who was called ὁ στρατηγός, and was certainly a Jew by his name Ananus, and being, as Josephus relates farther ('Bell Jud.,' 2, 12:6), the son of the high priest Ananias. He also mentions the captain of the temple ('Bell. Jud.,' 6, 5:3) at the time of the destruction of the temple. There can be little doubt, therefore, that the captain of the temple here spoken of was a priest who had under him the Levitical guard, and whose duty it was to keep order in the temple courts in these turbulent times, lie appears from Acts 5:25, 26, Luke 22:4, 52, and the passages in Josephus, to have been an officer of high rank.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
[While Peter and John]
αὐτῶν (autōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

were speaking
Λαλούντων (Lalountōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 2980: A prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. Utter words.

to
πρὸς (pros)
Preposition
Strong's 4314: To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.

the
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

people,
λαὸν (laon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2992: Apparently a primary word; a people.

the
οἱ (hoi)
Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

priests
ἱερεῖς (hiereis)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2409: A priest, one who offers sacrifice to a god (in Jewish and pagan religions; of Christians only met.). From hieros; a priest.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

the
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

captain
στρατηγὸς (stratēgos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4755: From the base of stratia and ago or hegeomai; a general, i.e. a governor, the chief of the temple-wardens.

of the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

temple guard
ἱεροῦ (hierou)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 2411: Neuter of hieros; a sacred place, i.e. The entire precincts of the Temple.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

the
οἱ (hoi)
Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Sadducees
Σαδδουκαῖοι (Saddoukaioi)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4523: Probably from Sadok; a Sadducaean, or follower of a certain heretical Israelite.

came
ἐπέστησαν (epestēsan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2186: To stand by, be urgent, befall one (as of evil), be at hand, impend. From epi and histemi; to stand upon, i.e. Be present.

up to them,
αὐτοῖς (autois)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.


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NT Apostles: Acts 4:1 As they spoke to the people (Acts of the Apostles Ac)
Acts 3:26
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