Acts 4:1

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

'AND AS THEY'-Apparently both Peter and John were preaching.

'THE PRIESTS'-'The priests were divided into twenty-four courses, each of which served. week in the temple; the priests mentioned here are probably those on duty for that week.' (Boles p. 63)

'CAPTAIN OF THE TEMPLE'-'This is the official referred to in rabbinical literature as the chief "sagan"..He belonged to one of the chief-priestly families, and in the temple he ranked next to the high priest. The temple guard which he commanded was. picked body of Levites...was responsible for maintaining order in the temple courts..' (Bruce p. 95) (Acts 5:24) 'These Levitical soldiers acted as sentinels at night in the temple area, and preserved peace during the day..in New Testament times numbered 400 men..One of the duties of the temple guard was to preserve the orderly, worshipful atmosphere in the temple..' (Reese pp. 171-172)

'SADDUCEES'-This is the "party" to which the chief-priestly families belonged. In contrast to the Pharisees, who were often from the middle-class, the Sadducees derived its members from the Jewish aristocracy, and was virtually. closed society. While the Pharisees laid great stress on the traditions of the elders, the Sadducees claimed to limit their beliefs to the doctrines they could find in the first five books of the O.T. They denied the existence of the soul, angels, spirits and the resurrection (Acts 23:8). Stott notes, 'They were the ruling class of wealthy aristocrats. Politically, they ingratiated themselves with the Romans, and followed. policy of collaboration, so that they feared the subversive implications of the apostles' teaching. Theologically, they believed that the Messianic age had begun in the Maccabean period; so they were not looking for the Messiah.' (p. 95)

'a small but powerful party of the priestly nobles who were supported by the temple dues, and had come to regard religion as. matter of profitable living rather than. service to God. They disliked any popular movement which might disturb the steady accumulation of temple revenues..' (Boles p. 64) See John 11:47.

'CAME UPON THEM'-'Burst upon them suddenly or stood by them in. hostile attitude.' (Robertson p. 49). While the Pharisees controlled the synagogues, the Temple constituted the Sadducees "turf".