Chief Priests

Who were the chief priests?

Acts 5:24-28 Chief Priests

ACTS 5:24 24 Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they were perplexed as to what the outcome would be.

How is the "high priest" different from the "chief priests" (Acts 5:24)?
In the Old Testament, "high priest" and "chief priest" (singular) are used interchangeably and refer to the one priest who is appointed to lead all other priests. "Chief priests" (plural) is found only in the New Testament and is the English translation of αρχιερεις (archiereis), which literally means "archpriests." The chief priests were the leading priests who were members of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council, and the high priest was one of the chief priests.

What is meant by the chief priests and the others being "perplexed as to what the outcome would be" (Acts 5:24)?
They were at a loss as to what was going on.

ACTS 5:25-26 25 So one came and told them, saying, “Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!” 26 Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned.

How did they bring the apostles "without violence" (Acts 5:26)?
They most likely just asked the apostles to come with them.

ACTS 5:27-28 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 28 saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!”

What might have been the high priest's demeanor?
Having convened the Sanhedrin, he had ordered the prisoners to be brought, and been told that the men he put in jail are teaching in the temple. So he was probably flustered after having been embarrassed in front of those he should have impressed.

"When had "the council ... strictly command" the apostles "not to teach" (Acts 5:28) in Jesus' name?
The last time they met after God used Peter and John to heal the lame man: "So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus." (Acts 4:18)

What is the high priest admitting to the apostles in Acts 5:28?
'We can’t control you, and you’re beating us.'

What does he mean by, "you... intend to bring this Man's blood on us!"
He's accusing the apostles of trying to make them guilty of killing Jesus.

Who already addressed this issue?
They themselves had, after leading "all the people" to demand Pilate to crucify Jesus: "When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.” And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children" (Matt 27:24-25).

Do the apostles intend to bring Jesus' blood on them?
Spiritually, they should hope so since only by the blood of Jesus could their sins be forgiven.