the Second Week after Easter
Click here to join the effort!
Read the Bible
Biblia Karoli Gaspar
Cselekedetek 4:1
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- AmericanEncyclopedias:
- CondensedDevotionals:
- EveryBible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
the priests: Acts 4:6, Acts 6:7, Acts 6:12, Matthew 26:3, Matthew 26:4, Matthew 27:1, Matthew 27:2, Matthew 27:20, Matthew 27:41, John 15:20, John 18:3
the captain: or, the ruler, Acts 5:24, Acts 5:26, 2 Chronicles 23:4-9, Luke 22:4
the Sadducees: Acts 23:6-9, Matthew 16:12, Matthew 22:16, Matthew 22:23, Matthew 22:24
Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 24:5 - the governors 2 Chronicles 35:8 - rulers Nehemiah 8:13 - the second Jeremiah 20:1 - chief Jeremiah 26:7 - General Jeremiah 29:26 - officers Jeremiah 38:1 - heard Matthew 3:7 - the Pharisees Matthew 22:6 - the remnant Mark 12:18 - say Mark 13:9 - take Luke 19:39 - rebuke Luke 20:27 - the Sadducees Acts 5:17 - all Acts 23:8 - General James 2:6 - and
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And as they spake unto the people,.... For though only mention is made of Peter's 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 master's 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 p.''
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,
איש הר בית, "the man of the mountain of the house"; who was שר, a ruler, or governor, and ממונה, a president over all the wards q; he is sometimes called ראש משמר, "the head of the ward" r; and of him it is said s,
"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 :-,
:-. The Sadducees were a sect among the Jews, that denied the resurrection of the dead; of their rise, name, and tenets, :-.
p Misn. Middot, c. 1. sect. 1. q Bartenora & Yom Tob in ib. sect. 2. r Bemidbar Rabba, sect. 6. fol. 186. 3. s Misn. Middot, c. 1. sect. 2.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
The priests - It is probable that these priests were a part of the Sanhedrin, or Great Council of the nation. It is evident that they claimed some authority for preventing the preaching of the apostles.
The captain of the temple - See the Matthew 26:47; Luke 22:4 note. This was the commander of the guard stationed chiefly in the tower Antonia, especially during the great feasts; and it was his duty to preserve order and prevent any tumult. He came at this time to prevent a tumult or suppress a riot, as it was sup posed that the teaching of the apostles and the crowd collected by the healing of the lame man would lead to a tumult.
And the Sadducees - See the notes on Matthew 3:7. One of the doctrines which the Sadducees maintained was, that there was no resurrection of the dead. Hence, they were particularly opposed to the apostles for preaching it, because they gave so clear proof that Jesus had risen, and were thus spreading the doctrine of the resurrection among the people.
Came upon them - This expression implies that they came in a sudden and violent manner. See Luke 20:1.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
CHAPTER IV.
The priests And Sadducees are incensed at the apostles'
teaching, and put them in prison, 1-3.
The number of those who believed, 4.
The rulers, elders, and scribes call the apostles before them,
and question them concerning their authority to teach, 5-7.
Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, answers, and proclaims Jesus,
8-12.
They are confounded at his discourse and the miracle wrought on
the lame man, yet command them not to preach in the name of
Jesus, 13-18.
Peter and John refuse to obey, 19, 20.
They are farther threatened and dismissed, 21, 22.
They return to their own company, who all join in praise and
prayer to God, 23-30.
God answers, and fills them with the Holy Spirit, 31.
The blessed state of the primitive disciples, 32-35.
The case of Joses, who sells his estate, and brought the money
to the common stock. 36. 37.
NOTES ON CHAP. IV.
Verse Acts 4:1. 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, Luke 22:4; Luke 22:4.
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.
