Acts 4:1

The captain of the temple (o strathgo tou ierou). Twenty-four bands of Levites guarded the temple, one guard at a time. They watched the gates. The commander of each band was called captain (strathgo). Josephus names this captain of the temple police next to the high priest (War. VI. 5, 3). The Sadducees (oi Saddoukaioi). Most of the priests were Sadducees now and all the chief priests since John Hyrcanus I deserted the Pharisees (Josephus, Ant. XVII. 10, 6; XVIII. 1, 4; XX. 9, 1). The Sadducees were slow to line up with the Pharisees against Jesus, but they now take the lead against Peter and John. Came upon them (epesthsan autoi). Second aorist active indicative (intransitive). Burst upon them suddenly or stood by them in a hostile attitude here ( Luke 20:1 ; Luke 24:4 ; Acts 6:12 ; Acts 17:5 ; Acts 22:20 ; Acts 23:11 ).