New International VersionThe 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 TranslationWhile 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 VersionAnd as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,
Berean Standard BibleWhile 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 BibleAnd of them speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,
King James BibleAnd as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,
New King James VersionNow as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them,
New American Standard BibleAs they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them,
NASB 1995As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them,
NASB 1977And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees, came upon them,
Legacy Standard BibleNow as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them,
Amplified BibleAnd 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 BibleWhile they were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple police, and the Sadducees confronted them,
Holman Christian Standard BibleNow as they were speaking to the people, the priests, the commander of the temple police, and the Sadducees confronted them,
American Standard VersionAnd as they spake unto the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,
Contemporary English VersionThe apostles were still talking to the people, when some priests, the captain of the temple guard, and some Sadducees arrived.
English Revised VersionAnd as they spake unto the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,
GOD'S WORD® TranslationSome 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 TranslationPeter 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 VersionWhile they were speaking to the people, the priests, the commander of the Temple guards, and the Sadducees came to them.
NET BibleWhile 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 BibleAs they spoke to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came to them,
Webster's Bible TranslationAnd as they were speaking to the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them,
Weymouth New TestamentWhile they were saying this to the people, the Priests, the Commander of the Temple Guard, and the Sadducees came upon them, Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleWhile Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them,
World English BibleAs they spoke to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came to them, Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd as they are speaking to the people, there came to them the priests, and the magistrate of the temple, and the Sadducees—
Berean Literal BibleAnd 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 TranslationAnd they speaking to the people, the priests, and commander of the temple, and the Sadducees, resisted them, Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAND as they were speaking to the people, the priests, and the officer of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,
Catholic Public Domain VersionBut while they were speaking to the people, the priests and the magistrate of the temple and the Sadducees overwhelmed them,
New American BibleWhile they were still speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees confronted them,
New Revised Standard VersionWhile 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 BibleAND 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 EnglishAnd 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 TestamentWhile they were speaking to the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them,
Godbey New TestamentAnd they speaking to the people, the priests and captain of the temple and the Sadducees rose up against them,
Haweis New TestamentAND as they were thus speaking, the priests, and the captain of the temple-guard, and the Sadducees, came upon them,
Mace New TestamentWhile they were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadduces came upon them,
Weymouth New TestamentWhile they were saying this to the people, the Priests, the Commander of the Temple Guard, and the Sadducees came upon them,
Worrell New TestamentBut, as they were speaking to the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,
Worsley New TestamentAnd 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 Council1WhilePeter and Johnwere speakingtothepeople,thepriestsandthecaptainof thetemple guardandtheSadduceescameup to them,2greatly disturbed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.…
Cross References Acts 5:17-18Then 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 20:1-2One 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 21:23When 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 18:12Then the band of soldiers, with its commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him.
Acts 3:11While the man clung to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and ran to them in the walkway called Solomon’s Colonnade.
Acts 6:12So they stirred up the people, elders, and scribes and confronted Stephen. They seized him and brought him before the Sanhedrin,
Acts 16:19-20When 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 19:23-24About 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 22:30The 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 23:1-2Paul 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 24:1-2Five 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 25:1-2Three 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 26:30-31Then 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 2:10But 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 20:1-2When 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 Thisis 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, Menand 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 badethem 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 anyman: for thou regardest not the person of men… Jump to Previous CaptainCommanderGuardJohnMagistratePeterPriestsSadduceesSad'duceesSpeakingTalkingTempleJump to Next CaptainCommanderGuardJohnMagistratePeterPriestsSadduceesSad'duceesSpeakingTalkingTempleActs 4 1.The rulers of the Jews, offended with Peter's sermon,3.imprison him and John.5.After, upon examination8.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 peoplePeter and John, two of Jesus' closest disciples, are actively engaging with the people in Jerusalem. This follows the healing of the lame man at the temple gate, which drew significant attention. Their speaking is a continuation of their witness to the resurrection of Jesus, a central theme in the early chapters of Acts. This public proclamation is a fulfillment of Jesus' command in Acts 1:8 to be His witnesses in Jerusalem. The setting is likely the temple courts, a common place for teaching and discussion. the priests
The priests were influential religious leaders responsible for temple rituals and maintaining the spiritual life of Israel. They were part of the Levitical order, descendants of Aaron, and held significant authority in Jewish society. Their involvement here indicates the perceived threat Peter and John posed to the established religious order by preaching Jesus' resurrection, which challenged the Sadducees' beliefs and the temple's authority. and the captain of the temple guard
The captain of the temple guard was a high-ranking official responsible for maintaining order in the temple precincts. This position was second only to the high priest in terms of authority within the temple hierarchy. The presence of the captain underscores the seriousness with which the temple authorities viewed the apostles' activities. The temple guard was tasked with preventing disturbances and ensuring that temple worship proceeded without interruption. and the Sadducees
The Sadducees were a sect of Judaism known for their aristocratic status and control of the temple. They were distinct from the Pharisees in their denial of the resurrection, angels, and spirits, as noted inActs 23:8. Their opposition to Peter and John is rooted in theological differences, as the apostles' message of Jesus' resurrection directly contradicted Sadducean doctrine. The Sadducees' involvement highlights the political and religious tensions of the time, as they sought to preserve their power and influence. came up to them
The approach of these authorities signifies an impending confrontation. The Sadducees, priests, and temple guard were likely motivated by a desire to suppress what they saw as a dangerous and heretical movement. This encounter is part of a broader pattern of opposition faced by the early church, as seen throughout Acts. It foreshadows the persecution that the apostles and early Christians would endure for their faith, fulfilling Jesus' warnings about the cost of discipleship (John 15:18-20). Persons / Places / Events 1. Peter and JohnTwo of Jesus' apostles who were actively preaching the resurrection of Jesus Christ and performing miracles in His name. 2. The PriestsReligious leaders responsible for temple rituals and maintaining religious order among the Jewish people. 3. The Captain of the Temple GuardThe official responsible for maintaining order in the temple precincts, second in authority only to the high priest. 4. The SadduceesA sect of Judaism known for their denial of the resurrection and the existence of spirits, often in conflict with the Pharisees and early Christians. 5. The TempleThe central place of worship for the Jewish people in Jerusalem, where significant religious and social activities took place. Teaching Points Boldness in Proclaiming the GospelPeter and John exemplify courage in the face of opposition. Believers today are called to share their faith boldly, even when facing resistance. Understanding OppositionRecognize that opposition to the Gospel often comes from those who feel their power or beliefs are threatened. This understanding can help Christians respond with grace and truth. The Role of Religious AuthorityThe involvement of the priests and temple guard highlights the tension between religious authority and the new movement of Christianity. Believers should discern when to respect authority and when to stand firm in their faith. The Importance of the ResurrectionThe Sadducees' opposition underscores the centrality of the resurrection in Christian doctrine. Believers should be prepared to defend this core tenet of their faith. Community and SupportPeter and John were together, showing the importance of community and mutual support in ministry. Christians should seek fellowship and encouragement from other believers. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Acts 4
Isn’t Christian faith just cultural conditioning?
What defines Christian behavior?
When did various Christian denominations originate?
What are Mystery Religions?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 onLuke 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. In2 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 speakingΛαλούντων(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.toπρὸς(pros)Preposition
Strong's 4314:To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.theτὸν(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.theοἱ(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.priestsἱερεῖς(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.andκαὶ(kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.theὁ(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.captainστρατηγὸς(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 theτοῦ(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 guardἱεροῦ(hierou)Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 2411:Neuter of hieros; a sacred place, i.e. The entire precincts of the Temple.andκαὶ(kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.theοἱ(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.SadduceesΣαδδουκαῖοι(Saddoukaioi)Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4523:Probably from Sadok; a Sadducaean, or follower of a certain heretical Israelite.cameἐπέστησαν(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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