12:18 Sadducees. The high-priestly families at the time of Jesus were members of this group. The Sadducees denied the resurrection, the existence of angels, and rejected the oral tradition of the Pharisees. Their name probably derives from Zadok, David’s high priest (2 Sam. 8:17; 1 Chr. 15:11; 29:22) and appointed officer over the Aaronic priestly line (1 Chr. 27:17), who was given the exclusive right to be high priest (Ezek. 40:46; 43:19).