These things greatly perplexed the priests and rulers, especially those among them who were Sadducees. They saw that if the apostles were allowed to preach a resurrected Saviour, and to do miracles in his name, their doctrine that there was no resurrection of the dead would be rejected by all, and their sect would soon become extinct. The Pharisees saw that the tendency of their preaching would be to undermine the Jewish ceremonies, and make the sacrificial offerings of none effect. Their former efforts to suppress these preachers had been in vain; but they now felt determined to put down the excitement. {3SP 287.1}

Disse ting gav præsterne og øversterne store problemer, især iblandt dem som var Sadukære. De så at hvis apostlene fik lov til at forkynde en opstanden frelser, og gøre mirakler i hans navn, var deres lære om ingen opstandelse for døde, blev forkastet af alle, og deres sekt ville hurtigt ikke eksistere længere. Farisæerne så at tendensen til deres forkyndelse ville underminere de jødiske ceremonier, og at offersystemet ikke ville have virkning. Deres tidligere anstrengelser for at undertrykke disse forkyndere var forgæves; men de følte sig nu mere opsat på at nedlægge denne opstand.