“And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,”
The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John as they were speaking to the people — the religious establishment's opposition emerges immediately; the priests (hiereis, priests, temple officials), temple guard captain (stratēgos, commander, military officer), and Sadducees (Sadducees, the rationalist, priestly party) are threatened by the apostles' public teaching and popular influence. The Sadducees' opposition specifically is noted; they denied resurrection (23:8), making the apostolic proclamation of Jesus' resurrection intolerable.
Church Fathers on Acts 4:1
Ere yet they had time to take breath after their first trials, straightway they enter into others. And observe how the events are disposed. First, they were all mocked together; this was no small trial: secondly, they enter into dangers. And these two things do not take place in immediate succession; but when first the Apostles have won admiration by their two discourses, and after that have performed a notable miracle, thereupon it is that, after they are waxen bold, through…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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