Priestly Lineage and Named Authority in Acts 4:6: Apposition, Lists, and Genitive Identification in Narrative Greek

καὶ Ἅνναν τὸν ἀρχιερέα καὶ Καϊάφαν καὶ Ἰωάννην καὶ Ἀλέξανδρον καὶ ὅσοι ἦσαν ἐκ γένους ἀρχιερατικοῦ,

Coordinated Proper Nouns and Appositional Structure

• καὶ: Coordinating conjunction—”and.”
• Ἅνναν: Accusative singular of the proper name Ἅννας, referring to Annas, the former high priest.
• τὸν ἀρχιερέα: Accusative singular masculine noun with article—”the high priest.”
• Appositional to Ἅνναν: specifying his office or title
• Καϊάφαν: Accusative singular proper name, referring to Caiaphas, who was the acting high priest at the time.
• Ἰωάννην and Ἀλέξανδρον: Accusative singular proper names, likely members of the priestly aristocracy.
• These names occur in the list without further description but are included for their prominence.
• These names form a historical witness list, grammatically coordinated as objects or mentioned figures in the narrative. Their position indicates influence and authority.

Relative Clause of Classification: καὶ ὅσοι ἦσαν ἐκ γένους ἀρχιερατικοῦ

• ὅσοι: Relative pronoun, nominative masculine plural—”all who.”
• Functions here as a collective reference to a larger group beyond the individuals named.
• ἦσαν: Imperfect active indicative, 3rd person plural of εἰμί, “they were.”
• Indicates a past continuous state of identity or association.
• ἐκ: Preposition with genitive—”from” or “out of.”
• γένους: Genitive singular neuter of γένος, “lineage,” “family,” or “stock.”
• ἀρχιερατικοῦ: Genitive singular masculine adjective—”priestly” or “high-priestly.”
• Modifies γένους, indicating priestly descent or affiliation.
• The whole clause: “and all who were from the high priestly family.”
• This identifies a broader aristocratic or Levitical class involved in the Sanhedrin interrogation.

Syntax of Named Elites and Familial Authority

This verse functions within a narrative list, describing the key figures assembled against the apostles in Jerusalem. The syntax reflects both grammatical coordination and sociopolitical significance:

1. The use of accusative proper nouns like Ἅνναν, Καϊάφαν, etc., suggests a continued listing of prominent figures mentioned as part of the Sanhedrin or its ruling class.
2. The appositional phrase τὸν ἀρχιερέα applied to Annas reflects Luke’s sensitivity to political-religious nuance: though Caiaphas was the current high priest, Annas still wielded great influence.
3. The relative clause introduced by ὅσοι expands the list beyond individuals to an entire hereditary or dynastic group—those descended from the high-priestly lineage.

The phrase ἐκ γένους ἀρχιερατικοῦ reveals the institutional structure of religious leadership in Jerusalem, showing that family heritage played a central role in temple authority. This is not merely a reference to Levitical descent but to a dominant priestly aristocracy, some of whom were Sadducees.

Thus, the verse grammatically and historically portrays a concentrated coalition of power—personal, institutional, and generational—arrayed against the early Christian proclamation.