What are the…
Sadducees

The origin of this Jewish sect cannot definitely be traced. It was probably the outcome of the influence of Grecian customs and philosophy during the period of Greek domination. They were the deists or sceptics of that age.

The first time they are met with is in connection with John the Baptist's ministry. They came out to him when on the banks of the Jordan, and he said to them, “O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” (Matthew 3:7).

The next time they are spoken of they are represented as coming to our Lord tempting him. He calls them “hypocrites” and “a wicked and adulterous generation” (Matthew 16:1-4; 22:23).

The only reference to them in the Gospels of Mark (12:18-27) and Luke (20:27-38) is their attempting to ridicule the doctrine of the resurrection, which they denied, as they also denied the existence of angels.

The Sadducees are never mentioned in John's Gospel.

There were many Sadducees among the “elders” of the Sanhedrin. They seem, indeed, to have been as numerous as the Pharisees (Acts 23:6). They showed their hatred of Jesus in taking part in his condemnation (Matthew 16:21; 26:1-3, 59; Mark 8:31; 15:1; Luke 9:22; 22:66).

They endeavoured to prohibit the apostles from preaching the resurrection of Christ.

During the Jerusalem Pentecost the Apostle Peter told the men of Israel,

But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.
…Men, brothers, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. And so, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to set one of the fruit of his body on his throne, he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was neither forsaken to Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. —Acts 2:24, 29-32 excerpt

Later, at the Temple the Sadducees took action.

Now as they [Peter and John] were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, being greatly agitated because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them and put them in jail… —Acts 4:1-3 excerpt

Again they imprisoned the Apostles for the same reason in Acts 5:17, 18. However, an angel of the Lord freed them to return the Temple and teach the truth about Jesus Christ (Acts 5:19-33), obeying God rather than men.

The Sadducees do not appear again in history as a separate sect after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.

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Article Version: March 19, 2026