Atos 23

Atos 23

Vincent says, "Paul, with great tact, seeks to bring the two parties of the council into collision with each other." So Alford argues with the motto "divide and conquer." Farrar condemns Paul and takes Acts 24:21 as a confession of error here, but that is reading into Paul's word about the resurrection more than he says. Page considers Luke's report meagre and unsatisfactory. Rackham thinks that the trial was already started and that Paul repeated part of his speech of the day before when "the Sadducees received his words with ostentatious scepticism and ridicule: this provoked counter-expressions of sympathy and credulity among the Pharisees." But all this is inference. We do not have to adopt the Jesuitical principle that the end justifies the means in order to see shrewdness and hard sense in what Paul said and did. Paul knew, of course, that the Sanhedrin was nearly evenly divided between Pharisees and Sadducees, for he himself had been a Pharisee. Word Pictures in the New Testament. Others like Pastor Ray Stedman see this as a spiritual failure by Paul. And so Stedman as says "During our studies through Acts, I am sure you have felt in your own heart, again and again, the impact of the faith, the prayers, and the power of Paul -- Christ's mightiest missionary apostle. Who would ever have dreamed that this mighty apostle would eventually fall into the devil's trap and disobey the Spirit of God? But that is exactly what we have seen happening to this great man as he neared Jerusalem but was forbidden by the Holy Spirit to go any further. And yet, out of the passion of his heart to be used of God to reach his people, Israel, and to bear witness to this unbelieving nation -- motivated by the highest of desires -- he nevertheless disobeyed what God clearly told him to do. He continued on and thus fell into great difficulty....Probably the subtlest temptation of all is to be tempted to do what is right, to do what God wants done, but to do it on our own time schedule and not be willing to await the unfolding of God's program. And that is what finally trapped Paul." (See below or Read his full sermon - Acts 22:30-23:35 Love That Never Lets Go) Acts 23:7 As he said this, there occurred a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided KJV Acts 23:7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided. NET Acts 23:7 When he said this, an argument began between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. GNT Acts 23:7 τοῦτο δὲ αὐτοῦ εἰπόντος ἐγένετο στάσις τῶν Φαρισαίων καὶ Σαδδουκαίων καὶ ἐσχίσθη τὸ πλῆθος. NLT Acts 23:7 This divided the council-- the Pharisees against the Sadducees-- KJV Acts 23:7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided. ESV Acts 23:7 And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. CSB Acts 23:7 When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. NIV Acts 23:7 When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. NAB Acts 23:7 When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the group became divided. NKJ Acts 23:7 And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the assembly was divided. NJB Acts 23:7 As soon as he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was split between the two parties. GWN Acts 23:7 After Paul said that, the Pharisees and Sadducees began to quarrel, and the men in the meeting were divided. NRS Acts 23:7 When he said this, a dissension began between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. YLT Acts 23:7 And he having spoken this, there came a dissension of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees, and the crowd was divided, there arose Acts 14:4; Ps 55:9; Mt 10:34; John 7:40-43 Video of Paul before the Sanhedrin Acts 23 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries DOCTRINAL FLASHPOINT! CONTENTION IN THE COUNCIL Flashpoint means the point at which something is ready to blow up. It is something that causes violence or conflict to flare up, a critical moment beyond which a situation will inevitably erupt into violence. As he said this, there occurred a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided - The Sadducees dominated the Sanhedrin, which was authorized to function something like a supreme court over issues pertaining to Jews. They were subject to Roman authority, but Rome found it expedient to leave religious matters in their hands. They were even authorized to deal with religious concerning Jews in cities outside Palestine, as the letter authorizing young Saul of Tarsus to export the persecution of Christians to Damascus illustrates. Dissension (4714)(stasis from histemi = to stand) means first a stance or posture (Heb 9:8), then figuratively sedition, an insurrection or an uprising, the very accusation made against Paul (Acts 24:5). Luke uses stasis in the present context to describe "a dissension" or disagreement among those expected to cooperate (Acts 23:7). Clearly local Roman leaders feared insurrections, as for example the "town clerk" of Ephesus (Acts 19:35) who declared "we are in danger of being accused of a riot (stasis) in connection with today’s events, since there is no real cause for it, and in this connection we will be unable to account for this disorderly gathering.” Note that stásis applies to civil unrest while pólemos (war) refers to foreign strife. All NT uses of stasis - Mk. 15:7; Lk. 23:19; Lk. 23:25; Acts 15:2; Acts 19:40; Acts 23:7; Acts 23:10; Acts 24:5; Heb. 9:8 Was divided (4977)(schizo gives us English schism) means to split, rend, divide or cause to separate violently or abruptly. For example, it is used literally of splitting the veil in the Temple from top to bottom (Mt 27:51, Mk 15:38. Lk 23:45), of tearing Jesus' garments (Jn 19:24), and of tearing a net (Jn 21:11). Schizo is used figuratively by Luke in Acts 14:4 and here Acts 23:7 of a division between men or parties (factions), much like the meaning of our English word schism. Jack Andrews quips "The doctrinal issue had split the council—the whole multitude had taken sides—there were no innocent bystanders or fence straddlers!...They had come together to condemn Paul and now they were coming apart because of Paul. The doctrinal issue was so divisive—there are many church goers and church shoppers and church hoppers that want to find a “church” that does not teach doctrine because doctrine is so divisive! These folks will not believe the truth because they will not receive the truth. They will not heed the truth because they will not hear the truth. (Jack Andrews Expository Studies – Understanding Acts - Volume 6). Acts 23:8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all KJV Acts 23:8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. NET Acts 23:8 (For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, or angel, or spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.) GNT Acts 23:8 Σαδδουκαῖοι μὲν γὰρ λέγουσιν μὴ εἶναι ἀνάστασιν μήτε ἄγγελον μήτε πνεῦμα, Φαρισαῖοι δὲ ὁμολογοῦσιν τὰ ἀμφότερα. NLT Acts 23:8 for the Sadducees say there is no resurrection or angels or spirits, but the Pharisees believe in all of these. ESV Acts 23:8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. CSB Acts 23:8 For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, and no angel or spirit, but the Pharisees affirm them all. NIV Acts 23:8 (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.) NAB Acts 23:8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection or angels or spirits, while the Pharisees acknowledge all three. NKJ Acts 23:8 For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection-- and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both. NJB Acts 23:8 For the Sadducees say there is neither resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, while the Pharisees accept all three. GWN Acts 23:8 (The Sadducees say that the dead won't come back to life and that angels and spirits don't exist. The Pharisees believe in all these things.) NRS Acts 23:8 (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, or angel, or spirit; but the Pharisees acknowledge all three.) YLT Acts 23:8 for Sadducees, indeed, say there is no rising again, nor messenger, nor spirit, but Pharisees confess both. Acts 4:1; Mt 22:23; Mark 12:18; Luke 20:27 Video of Paul before the Sanhedrin Acts 23 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries ANTI-SUPERNATURALISM IS "SAD YOU SEE!" Apologies for the bad pun! You did "get it" didn't you? For (gar) is a term of explanation. Luke is explaining what the radical schism between these two sects. The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit - They were like Thomas Jefferson, who was an anti-supernaturalist, and took the extreme measure to cut out all of the supernatural passages in the Bible! (See What is the Thomas Jefferson Bible?) But the Pharisees acknowledge (confess, affirm, accept) them all - The Pharisees were staunchly conservative and believed in the reality of all three subjects, while the Sadducees were theological liberals who were basically anti-supernaturalists. On this belief see the writings of Josephus -- Josephus Wars 2.8.14; Josephus Antiquities 18.1.3 (scroll down). Acknowledge (3670)(homologeo from homos = one and the same or together with+ lego = to say; confess from con = together, fateor = to say.) literally means to say the same thing as another and so to agree in one's statements with, to acknowledge, to admit the truth of (an accusation). Uses in Acts - Acts 7:17; Acts 23:8; Acts 24:14;