John the Relative of Annas
Henry Alford, The Greek Testament
Acts 4:6. 6.] On Annas and Caiaphas, both called high priests, Luke 3:2,-see note there. Of John and Alexander nothing is known. Lightfoot supposes John to be identical with the Jochanan ben Zacchai of the Talmud, who however (De W.) was not of the high-priestly, but only of the priestly race:-and Pearson, Wolf, Krebs, and Mangey suppose Alexander to have been the brother of Philo Judæus, mentioned by Jos. Antt. xviii. 8. 1. But this is very improbable; for he was Alabarch of the Jews at Alexandria, Jos. ibid.
Albert Barnes, Notes on the Bible
John, and Alexander ... - Of these persons nothing more is known. It is clear that they were members of the Great Council, and the mention of their names shows that the men of chief authority and influence were assembled to silence the apostles. Annas and Caiaphas had been concerned in the condemnation of Jesus, and they would now feel a special interest in arresting the progress of the gospel among the people. All the success of the gospel reflected back light upon the wickedness of the act of condemning the Lord Jesus. And this fact may serve, in part, to account for their strong desire to silence the apostles.
E. W. Bullinger, Companion Bible Notes
John. Nothing certainly known of him. Dr. John Lightfoot supposes he was Johanan Ben Lacoai, a famous Rabbi of that time. Works, viii. p. 392.
Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible
And John - Dr. Lightfoot conjectures, with great probability that this was Jochanan ben Zaccai, who was very famous at that time in the Jewish nation. Of him it is said in the Talmud, Jucas. fol. 60: "Rabbin Jochanan ben Zaccai the priest lived 120 years. He found favor in the eyes of Caesar, from whom he obtained Jafneh. When he died, the glory of wisdom ceased." The following is a remarkable passage: Yoma, fol. 39: Forty years before the destruction of the city, (the very time of which St. Luke now treats), when the gates of the temple flew open of their own accord, Rab. Jochanan ben Zaccai said, "O temple! temple! why dost thou disturb thyself? I know thy end, that thou shalt be destroyed, for so the Prophet Zachary hath spoken concerning thee: open thy doors, O Lebanon! that the fire may devour thy cedars." See Lightfoot and Schoettgen.
Easton's Bible Dictionary - John
One who, with Annas and Caiaphas, sat in judgment on the apostles Peter and John (Acts 4:6). He was of the kindred of the high priest; otherwise unknown.
Andrew R. Fausset, Bible Dictionary
1. With Annas and Caiaphas, tried Peter and John for curing the impotent man and preaching in the temple (Acts 4:6). The same as Rabbi Johanan ben Zaccai, who lived 40 years before the temple's destruction, and presided over the great synagogue after its removal to Jabne or Jamnia (Lightfoot).
John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible
and John; who is thought by Dr. Lightfoot to be the same with Jochanan, or John ben Zaccai; a famous Jewish Rabbi, who lived at this time, and until, and after the destruction of Jerusalem: this Rabbi was … "a priest" (t), as this John was, of the kindred of the high priest; he lived also at Jerusalem; for it is said of him (u), that he sat in the shadow of the temple, and expounded all the whole day; and a very remarkable story is told of him, which happened just about this time (w); which is, that
"forty years before the destruction of the temple--the doors of the temple opened of themselves, when Rabban Jochanan ben Zaccai reproved them, saying, O temple, temple, wherefore dost thou fright thyself? I know thee, that thine end shall be, to be destroyed; for so prophesied of thee Zechariah, the son of Iddo, Zechariah 11:1. "Open thy doors, O Lebanon", &c.''
The chief objection to him, as that learned writer observes, is, that he lived and died a Pharisee, whereas this John seems to have been a Sadducee; see Acts 5:17. This puts me in mind of John the high priest, who ministered in the high priesthood fourscore years, and at last became a Sadducee (x): Beza's ancient copy reads "Jonathan: and Alexander"; whose surname was Lysimachus, and had the title of "Alabarcha"; he was a very rich man (y): after Alexander the great had been at Jerusalem, this name became frequent among the Jews; and it is said (z) to be promised him, and was fulfilled, that every son that was born to the priests that year he entered Jerusalem, should be called Alexander; and therefore it is no wonder to hear of an Alexander among the kindred of the high priest; frequent mention is made of … "Rabbi Alexander", in the Jewish writings (a):
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
(3) A relative of Annas the high priest, who sat in the Sanhedrin when Peter and John were tried (Acts 4:6). Lightfoot supposes him to be the Jochanan ben Zacchai of the Talmud, who, however, did not belong to the family of the high priest. Nothing is really known of him.
John Peter Lange, Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal, and Homiletical
[John and Alexander] … two other members of the family of the high priest, who are not otherwise known in history.
Nave's Topical Bible
A relative of Annas the high priest - Acts 4:6
The People's New Testament
John and Alexander. No doubt great men at the time, but we know nothing of them.
Pulpit Commentary
Of John and Alexander nothing further is known, but Farrar conjectures that John may be "the celebrated Johanan Ben Zakkai, and Alexander perhaps the wealthy brother of Philo" ("Life of St. Paul," 1. p. 107). Of the kindred of the high priest; rather, of the high priestly race. The high priests were only taken from certain families; the members of which were called ajrciereiv, or chief priests, A.V., (Matthew 16:21 Matthew 26:47, etc.) Many of these would naturally be the near relations of the high priest.
A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament
They [Annas and Caiaphas] with John and Alexander are the leaders among the Sadducees in pressing the case against Peter and John.
Smith's Bible Dictionary - John
One of the high priests family, who, with Annas and Caiaphas, sat in judgment upon the apostles Peter and John. (Acts 6:6)
James Strong and John McClintock, Cyclopedia
1. One of the high priest's family, who, with Annas and Caiaphas, sat in judgment upon the apostles Peter and John for their cure of the lame man and preaching in the Temple (Acts 4:6), A.D. 29. Lightfoot identifies him with R. Johanan Ben-Zachai, who lived forty years before the destruction of the Temple, and was president of the great synagogue after its removal to Jabne, or Jamnia (Lightfoot, Cent. Chor. Matth. praef. ch. 15; see also Selden, De Synedriis, 2, ch. 15). Grotius merely says he was known to Rabbinical writers as "John the priest" (Comm. in Acts 4). - Smith.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
4. a certain man … a member of the Sanhedrin … Acts 4:6.