• Acts 4:1
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures

    • 4 Λαλούντων Speaking δὲ but αὐτῶν of them πρὸς toward τὸν the λαὸν people ἐπέστησαν stood upon αὐτοῖς them οἱ the ἀρχιερεῖς chief priests καὶ and ὁ the στρατηγὸς captain τοῦ of the ἱεροῦ temple καὶ and οἱ the Σαδδουκαῖοι, Sadducees,

  • Acts Study Notes—Chapter 4
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)

    • 4:1

      the two: Lit., “they,” that is, Peter and John.

      the captain of the temple: Also mentioned at Ac 5:24, 26. By the first century C.E., this official position was held by a priest who was second in authority to the high priest. The temple captain was in charge of the priests serving at the temple. He also maintained order in and around the temple by means of what may be called a temple police force made up of Levites. Subordinate captains oversaw the Levites who opened the temple gates in the morning and closed them at night. These guards protected the temple treasury, generally kept the crowds in order, and ensured that no one entered restricted areas. There were 24 divisions of Levites. Each division served a week at a time in rotation, twice a year, and likely had a captain who answered to the captain of the temple. The temple captains were men of influence. They are mentioned along with the chief priests who conspired to have Jesus put to death. On the night Jesus was betrayed, they came with their forces to arrest him.​—Lu 22:4 (see study note), 52.