Neither the temple guard nor the chief priests can explain what has happened in terms of natural cause and effect.1 The temple guard would be worried about losing their jobs, seeing as they have let the apostles escape. The chief priests would be worried about their reputations; they cannot even hold the apostles in jail for one night.
24 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to.