Bible Dictionaries

Holman Bible Dictionary

Captain of the Temple

The officer second in authority only to the high priest. Pashhur (“chief governor in the house of the Lord,” Jeremiah 20:1 ) and Seraiah (“ruler of the house of God,” Nehemiah 11:11 ) held this office in the Old Testament times. In Acts it appears that one of the main functions of this officer was to keep order in the Temple (Acts 4:1; Acts 5:24 ,Acts 5:24,5:26 ). The plural (Luke 22:4 ,Luke 22:4,22:52 ) may refer to officers under the command of the captain of the Temple.