SEV Biblia, Chapter 4:1
¶ Y hablando ellos al pueblo, sobrevinieron los sacerdotes, y el magistrado del Templo, y los saduceos,
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 4:1
Verse 1. The priests] These persons had evidenced the most implacable enmity against Christ from the beginning. The captain of the temple] See this office particularly explained in the note on Luke xxii. 4.
The Sadducees] Whose whole system was now in danger by the preaching of the resurrection of Christ; for they believed not in the immortality of the soul, nor in any future world. These made a common cause with the priests, &c., to suppress the evidence of Christ's resurrection, and silence the apostles.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 1. And as they spake unto the people , etc.] For though only mention is made of Peters preaching in the preceding chapter, yet doubtless John preached as well as he; either in turn, or to a part of the people at some distance: and this shows their diligence, faithfulness, and integrity, in the ministration of the word; and it is recorded to their honour, that whilst they were about their masters business, and discharging the duty of their office, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them ; by agreement, with great violence, and at unawares: the priests might be those who kept the watch in the temple; for in three places the priests kept watch, in the house of the sanctuary; in the house of Abtines, in the house of Nitsots, and in the house of Moked, and the Levites in one and twenty places f158 .
And it now being eventide, they might be about to take their stands; and the captain of the temple might be he, whom they call, tyb rh ya , the man of the mountain of the house; who was r , a ruler, or governor, and hnwmm , a president over all the wards f159 ; he is sometimes called rmm ar , the head of the ward f160 ; and of him it is said f161 , the man of the mountain of the house goes his round through every ward, with burning torches before him; and every ward that does not stand (is not on his feet), the man of the mountain of the house, says to him, peace be to thee; and if he observes that he is asleep, he strikes him with his staff, and he has power to burn his garments.
The Vulgate Latin and the Oriental versions read in the plural number, as in (see Gill on Luke 22:4), (see Gill on Luke 22:52). The Sadducees were a sect among the Jews, that denied the resurrection of the dead; of their rise, name, and tenets, (See Gill on Matthew 3:7).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-4 - The apostles preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. I includes all the happiness of the future state; this they preache through Jesus Christ, to be had through him only. Miserable is their case, to whom the glory of Christ's kingdom is a grief; for since the glory of that kingdom is everlasting, their grief will be everlastin also. The harmless and useful servants of Christ, like the apostles have often been troubled for their work of faith and labour of love when wicked men have escaped. And to this day instances are not wanting, in which reading the Scriptures, social prayer, and religiou conversation meet with frowns and checks. But if we obey the precept of Christ, he will support us.
Greek Textus Receptus
λαλουντων 2980 5723 V-PAP-GPM δε 1161 CONJ αυτων 846 P-GPM προς 4314 PREP τον 3588 T-ASM λαον 2992 N-ASM επεστησαν 2186 5627 V-2AAI-3P αυτοις 846 P-DPM οι 3588 T-NPM ιερεις 2409 N-NPM και 2532 CONJ ο 3588 T-NSM στρατηγος 4755 N-NSM του 3588 T-GSN ιερου 2411 N-GSN και 2532 CONJ οι 3588 T-NPM σαδδουκαιοι 4523 N-NPM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
1. Captain of the temple. It was the duty of the Levites to keep guard at the gates of the temple, in order to prevent the unclean from entering. To them the duties of the temple police were entrusted, under the command of an official known in the New Testament as "the captain of the temple," but in Jewish writings chiefly as "the man of the temple mount." Josephus speaks of him as a person of such consequence as to be sent, along with the high-priest, prisoner to Rome.Came upon (epesthsan). Or stood by them, suddenly. Compare Luke xxiv. 4; Acts xxii. 20; xxiii. 11. Of dreams or visions, to appear to.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
4:1 {The captain of the temple} (ho strategos tou hierou). Twenty-four bands of Levites guarded the temple, one guard at a time. They watched the gates. The commander of each band was called captain (strategos). Josephus names this captain of the temple police next to the high priest (_War_. VI. 5, 3). {The Sadducees} (hoi saddoukaioi). Most of the priests were Sadducees now and all the chief priests since John Hyrcanus I deserted the Pharisees (Josephus, _Ant_. XVII. 10, 6; XVIII. 1, 4; XX. 9, 1). The Sadducees were slow to line up with the Pharisees against Jesus, but they now take the lead against Peter and John. {Came upon them} (epestesan autois). Second aorist active indicative (intransitive). Burst upon them suddenly or stood by them in a hostile attitude here (#Lu 20:1; 24:4; Ac 6:12; 17:5; 22:20; 23:11).
