{The chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders} (hoi
archiereis kai hoi grammateis kai hoi presbuteroi). Note the
article with each separate group as in  Lu 20:1  and  Mt 21:23 .
These three classes were in the Sanhedrin. Clearly a large
committee of the Sanhedrin including both Sadducees and Pharisees
here confront Jesus in a formal attack upon his authority for
cleansing the temple and teaching in it.