The clause as soon as they were set free is purely transitional, in order to link what follows to what precedes.

To their group translates the phrase “to their own (people),” that is, to those who were believers. “To their friends,” used in several translations, is not explicit enough to define the meaning of the group to which the disciples returned.

What the chief priests and the elders had said refers to the threats in verses 17 and 21. The chief priests are simply “the leaders of the priests” or “those who command the priests.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .