4:1 It would appear that John as well as Peter spoke to the crowd—the Greek has simply, “as they were speaking”—and that they were still speaking when the authorities intervened, though they had evidently said enough for an effective presentation of the gospel (cf. v. 4). The captain of temple guard, that is, “the chief officer” (cf. 5:24, 26; RSV Neh. 11:11; Jer. 20:1; 2 Macc. 3:3; Josephus, Antiquities 20.125–133; War 6.288–309), was not only a priest, but second only in dignity to the high priest himself. To him belonged the general supervision of the temple worship and personnel. Under him were other officers (cf. Luke 22:4, 52), each in charge of a corps of temple police and charged with the responsibility of patrolling the temple, guarding its gates and its treasures. With the chief…