Then the high priest rose up,.... Annas, or rather Caiaphas; See Gill on "Ac 4:6" he having heard what miracles were wrought by the apostles, and what additions were made to them, rose up from his seat and went out of the sanhedrim, in great haste, and in much wrath and passion:and all they that were with him; in council, that were of his kindred or his party, as John and Alexander, and others, Ac 4:6which is the sect of the Sadducees; who denied the resurrection of the dead; which doctrine the apostles preached; and this made the high priest and his party very uneasy; whence it seems that the then high priest was a Sadducee, and also the sanhedrim at that time, and which was sometimes the case.
Great care indeed was taken of an high priest, that he should not be a Sadducee; on the eve of the day of atonement they always swore the high priest, lest he should be a Sadducee, that he would make no innovation in what was ordered him; and particularly that he would not put the incense upon the fire without, and then carry it in a censor into the most holy place, as the Sadducees understood , Le 16:3.
But notwithstanding all their care, sometimes they had a Sadducee for an high priest; we read of one John, an high priest, who ministered in that office fourscore years, and at last became a Sadducee .
And sometimes a sanhedrim consisted only of Sadducees: hence we read of yqwde lv Nydtyb, "a sanhedrim of Sadducees" ; and such an one was this; and therefore it is not to be wondered at what follows,and they were filled with indignation; or "zeal", for Sadducism; and which was a blind zeal, and not according to knowledge: or "with envy" at the apostles for the miracles done by them, and because of the success that attended them; fearing lest, should they go on at this rate, their religion and authority would come to nothing.
Sadducism now seemed greatly to prevail among men in power; and the Jews say ,"the son of David will not come until the whole government is turned to the opinion of the Sadducees.'' Misna Yoma, c. 1.
sect. 5. Maimon. & Bartenora in ib. T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 29. 1. Juchasin, fol. 16. 2. T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 52. 2. Ib. fol. 97.