Bible Strands
Acts 4:1
While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Peter and John are addressing a crowd when the priests, the temple guard captain, and the Sadducees approach them. This interruption occurs immediately after their public proclamation, which the religious authorities find deeply troubling.
The words — Λαλοῦντων (lalountōn) means "while speaking" or "as they were talking," describing the ongoing action of Peter and John. ἐστησαν (estēsan) translates to "they stood up to" or "they came upon," marking the sudden, confrontational arrival of the authorities.
The thread — The pattern of religious leaders confronting messengers recurs in Acts 6:12 and Acts 23:6, while Luke 22:4 records the same groups plotting against Jesus. These passages trace a consistent line of institutional opposition to those proclaiming divine truth.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to acknowledge that public witness naturally provokes official resistance. It demands a clear-eyed recognition that speaking truth to a crowd will draw the attention of established power.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,
Cross-references
- Luke 22:4 And Judas went to discuss with the chief priests and temple officers how he might betray Jesus to them.
- Acts 6:12 So they stirred up the people, elders, and scribes and confronted Stephen. They seized him and brought him before the Sanhedrin,
- Acts 23:6 Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. It is because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”
- Acts 5:24 When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this account, they were perplexed as to what was happening.
- Acts 5:26 At that point, the captain went with the officers and brought the apostles—but not by force, for fear the people would stone them.
- 2 Chronicles 23:4 This is what you are to do: A third of you priests and Levites who come on duty on the Sabbath shall keep watch at the doors,
- Matthew 3:7 But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his place of baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
- Matthew 22:23 That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus and questioned Him.
- Matthew 16:12 Then they understood that He was not telling them to beware of the leaven used in bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
- Matthew 22:16 They sent their disciples to Him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and that You teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You seek favor from no one, because You pay no attention to external appearance.