Acts 4:1-6:15

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 4:1

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... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Acts 4:1-3

Acts 4:1-3. And as they Namely, Peter and John; spake unto the people The multitude, who had assembled in the temple, upon occasion of the miraculous cure of the lame man, as related in the preceding chapter; the priests, &c., came upon them So wisely did God order, that they should first bear a full testimony to the truth in the temple, and then in the great council: to which they could have had no access, had they not been brought before it as criminals. Being grieved That the... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Acts 4:1-31

Growth brings opposition (4:1-31)During the centuries leading up to the Christian era (see ‘The New Testament World’), several parties had arisen within the Jewish religion. The most important of these were the Pharisees and the Sadducees.The Pharisees came mainly from the common people, and tried to preserve the Jewish way of life from the corruption of foreign ideas and political ambition. They were concerned with the outward show of religion, but not so concerned with correct attitudes of... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Acts 4:1

And = Now. spake. Greek. laleo. App-121 . unto. Greek. pros. App-104 . people. See Acts 2:47 . captain. See note on Luke 22:4 . temple. See Acts 2:46 . Sadducees. App-120 . The Lord was opposed by the Pharisees. Now the opponents are the Sadducees, because of their hatred of the truth of the resurrection, of which the Apostles were witnesses. See note on Acts 1:22 ; Acts 23:6-8 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Acts 4:1

The glorious success of the gospel at Pentecost and for some time afterward could not last. The mighty dragon who had attempted to devour the Christ, who had been "caught up unto God, and unto his throne" (Revelation 12:5), then turned the full strength of his fury against the Woman, that is, the church of our Lord Jesus Christ. The inherent hatred of truth and righteousness on the part of the powers of darkness was quickly manifested in the bitter opposition encountered by the apostolic... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Acts 4:1-2

Acts 4:1-2. The priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, &c.— These three kinds of men,on different accounts, were prejudiced against the apostles. The priests were offended, because the apostles, whom they looked upon only as private men, undertook to teach publicly; the Sadducees were displeased, because, in testifying the resurrection of Christ, they effectually preached that doctrine which they disclaimed and detested, the doctrine of the resurrection from the dead:... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Acts 4:1

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" ( :-), 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. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 4:1

Evidently John spoke to the people as did Peter ("they"). Three separate though related (Acts 5:17) individuals and groups objected to Peter and John addressing the people as they did. Jesus had also encountered opposition from leaders who questioned His authority when He taught in the temple (Mark 11:27-28; Luke 20:1-2). The captain (Gr. strategos) of the temple guard was the commanding officer of the temple police force. The Talmud referred to this officer as the Sagan. This individual was... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 4:1-4

The arrest of Peter and John 4:1-4In chapters 4-7 there is a series of similar confrontations with each one building up to the crisis of Stephen’s death and the persecution that followed. The first four verses of chapter 4 conclude the incident recorded in chapter 3 ("as they were speaking," Acts 4:1), and they introduce what follows in Acts 4:5-31. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 4:1-31

1. External opposition 3:1-4:31Opposition to the Christians’ message first came from external sources, particularly the leaders of Judaism. read more

Group of Brands