Acts 4 · Verse 1

Acts 4:1

And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,
Acts 4:1, King James Version

Acts 4:1 in other translations

BSBWhile Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them,
WEBAs they spoke to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came to them,
ASVAnd as they spake unto the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,
YLTAnd as they are speaking unto the people, there came to them the priests, and the magistrate of the temple, and the Sadducees--
DARBYAnd as they were speaking to the people, the priests and captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,
BBEAnd while they were talking to the people, the priests and the captain of the Temple and the Sadducees came up to them,
WebsterAnd as they were speaking to the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them,

What does Acts 4:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 4:1-12

Ac 4:1-13. Peter and John before the Sanhedrin.

1-12. the captain--of the Levitical guard. of the temple--annoyed at the disturbance created around it. and the Sadducees--who "say that there is no resurrection" (Ac 23:8), irritated at the apostles "preaching through (rather, 'in') Jesus the resurrection from the dead"; for the resurrection of Christ, if a fact, effectually overthrew the Sadducean doctrine.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
CHAPTER 4

Verse 1. The Priests. It is probable that these priests were a part of the sanhedrim, or great council of the nation. It is evident that they claimed some authority for preventing the preaching of the apostles. And the whole transaction seems to show that they did not come upon them in a tumultuous manner, but as keepers of the peace.

The captain of the temple. Mt 26:47. Lk 22:4. This was the commander of the guard stationed chiefly in the tower Antonia, especially during the great feasts; and it was their duty to preserve order, and prevent any tumult. The captain of the temple came at this time to prevent a tumult or suppress a riot, as it was supposed 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. Mt 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, and 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 Lk 20:1.

(1) "Captain of the temple" "ruler" (e) "came upon them" Mt 22:23, Acts 23:8

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

The priests and Sadducees are incensed at the apostles' teaching, and put them in prison, Act 4:1-3. The number of those who believed, Act 4:4. The rulers, elders, and scribes call the apostles before them, and question them concerning their authority to teach, Act 4:5-7. Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, answers, and proclaims Jesus, Act 4:8-12. 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, Act 4:13-18. Peter and John refuse to obey, Act 4:19, Act 4:20. They are farther threatened and dismissed, Act 4:21, Act 4:22. They return to their own company, who all join in praise and prayer to God, Act 4:23-30. God answers, and fills them with the Holy Spirit, Act 4:31. The blessed state of the primitive disciples, Act 4:32-35. The case of Joses, who sells his estate, and brought the money to the common stock, Act 4:36, Act 4:37. 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 Luk 22:4 (note). 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, etc., to suppress the evidence of Christ's resurrection, and silence the apostles.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 4:1-4
The apostles preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. It includes all the happiness of the future state; this they preached 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 everlasting 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 religious conversation meet with frowns and checks. But if we obey the precepts of Christ, he will support us.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Acts 4:1 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΛαλούντωνLalountōnWhen are speakingG2980
δὲdenowG1161
αὐτῶνautōntheyG846
πρὸςprostoG4314
τὸνtontheG3588
λαὸνlaonpeopleG2992
ἐπέστησανepestēsancameG2186
αὐτοῖςautoisupon themG846
οἱhoitheG3588
ἱερεῖςhi'ereispriestsG2409
καὶkaiandG2532
ὁhotheG3588
στρατηγὸςstratēgoscaptainG4755
τοῦtouof theG3588
ἱεροῦhi'eroutempleG2411
καὶkaiandG2532
οἱhoitheG3588
Σαδδουκαῖοι,SaddoukaioiSadducees,G4523

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 4:1

  • Luke 22:4

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

  • Acts 6:12

    And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,

  • 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. And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees’ part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.

  • Acts 5:26

    Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.

  • Acts 5:24

    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.

  • Matthew 3:7

    But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

  • 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; And a third part shall be at the king’s house; and a third part at the gate of the foundation: and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the Lord. But let none come into the house of the Lord, save the priests, and they that minister of the Levites; they shall go in, for they are holy: but all the people shall keep the watch of the Lord. And the Levites shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whosoever else cometh into the house, he shall be put to death: but be ye with the king when he cometh in, and when he goeth out. …

  • Matthew 22:23-24

    The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

  • 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.

  • John 18:3

    Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.

  • 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.

  • 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, And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 The rulers of the Jews, offended with Peter's sermon,
3 imprison him and John.
5 After, upon examination Peter boldly avouching the lame man to be healed by the name of Jesus, and that by the same Jesus only we must be eternally saved,
13 they command him and John to preach no more in that name, adding also threatening;
23 whereupon the church flees to prayer.
31 And God, by moving the place where they were assembled, testifies that he heard their prayer; confirming the church with the gift of the Holy Ghost, and with mutual love and charity.

the priests.
6; 6:7,12; Mt 26:3,4; 27:1,2,20,41; Joh 15:20; 18:3
the captain. or, the ruler.
5:24,26; 2Ch 23:4-9; Lu 22:4
the Sadducees.
23:6-9; Mt 16:12; 22:16,23,24

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 4:1

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

  • Acts 4:2

    Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

Read all of Acts 4

Acts 4:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y HABLANDO ellos al pueblo, sobrevinieron los sacerdotes, y el magistrado del templo, y los Saduceos,
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais comme ils parlaient au peuple, les sacrificateurs et le commandant du temple et les sadducéens survinrent,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Während sie aber zu dem Volke redeten, kamen die Priester und der Hauptmann des Tempels und die Sadducäer auf sie zu,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Loquentibus autem illis ad populum, supervenerunt sacerdotes, et magistratus templi, et sadducæi,