Acts 23 6

Acts 23:6 kjv

But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

Acts 23:6 nkjv

But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!"

Acts 23:6 niv

Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, "My brothers, I am a Pharisee, descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead."

Acts 23:6 esv

Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial."

Acts 23:6 nlt

Paul realized that some members of the high council were Sadducees and some were Pharisees, so he shouted, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, as were my ancestors! And I am on trial because my hope is in the resurrection of the dead!"

Acts 23 verses

Acts 23 6 Meaning

Paul, a Jew, invokes his Jewish identity and rights as a Roman citizen when addressing the Sanhedrin. He appeals to a division within the assembly, using the Sadducees' disbelief in resurrection to stir up opposition against the Pharisees and ultimately save himself. His declaration reflects his commitment to the hope of Israel, which is the resurrection of the dead.

Acts 23 6 Context

This verse occurs within the tumultuous events following Paul's arrest in Jerusalem (Acts 21:27-36). The Jewish leadership, particularly the chief priests and elders, sought to harm Paul. To diffuse an immediate violent reaction, the Roman commander Claudius Lysias brought Paul before the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish court, was composed of Sadducees and Pharisees, representing differing theological views. The Sadducees, primarily from the priestly aristocracy, rejected the oral traditions and believed only in the Written Law, denying resurrection, angels, and spirits. The Pharisees, on the other hand, accepted the broader body of Jewish tradition, including the resurrection of the dead. Paul's strategic statement in this verse deliberately exploited this division.

Acts 23 6 Word analysis

• Ego (Ἐγὼ): "I." Paul's emphatic personal declaration.

• Eimi (εἰμὶ): "am." Establishes his identity.

• Pharisaios (Φαρισαῖος): "Pharisee." A member of the religious sect known for its strict adherence to Jewish law and traditions.

• kai (καὶ): "and." Connects the two parts of his declaration.

• hyios (υἱὸς): "son." Indicates lineage and inheritance of belief.

• Pharisaion (Φαρισαίων): "of Pharisees." Emphasizes his upbringing and the tradition from which he came. This connects him to the stricter interpretation of Jewish law that valued resurrection.

• krisis (κρίσεως): "trial" or "judgment." Refers to the proceedings before the Sanhedrin.

• thestekos (στῆκεος): "I stand." Implies a position taken, a conviction held, and readiness for judgment based on that conviction.

• ex (ἐξ): "from" or "because of." Indicates the cause or basis of his standing for trial.

• tes (τῆς): "the." Definite article.

• Elpidos (ἐλπίδος): "hope." A crucial term signifying a confident expectation, particularly of future divine action. For Paul, this hope is inextricably linked to the resurrection.

• tes (τῆς): "the." Definite article.

• anastaseos (ἀναστάσεως): "resurrection." The rising again from the dead. This is the specific theological point that creates the division.

• nekron (νεκρῶν): "of the dead." Specifies the nature of the resurrection.

• kata (κατὰ): "concerning" or "regarding." Specifies the object of the trial.

• Paul's Pharisaic background and its significance: Being a Pharisee, and the son of Pharisees, meant Paul was deeply immersed in Jewish law and tradition, including the belief in resurrection. This contrasted sharply with the Sadducees' denial of it, making his statement a tactical move.

• The "hope of Israel": This phrase encapsulates the fervent Jewish expectation of God's future intervention, primarily manifested in the coming of the Messiah and the establishment of God's kingdom, which inevitably involved the resurrection of the dead.

• "I stand for trial": This highlights Paul's steadfastness in his faith, even in the face of persecution. His stance is not one of shame but of conviction.

Acts 23 6 Bonus section

Paul's rhetorical skill is evident here. He is not merely stating a fact but strategically aligning himself with one faction of the Sanhedrin against the other to achieve a specific outcome: his protection and a platform to preach the resurrection. This incident demonstrates that, for Paul, belief in the resurrection was not a minor point but the very essence of his faith and the reason for his ministry and persecution. His reference to "the hope of Israel" connects his personal belief to the collective expectation of the Jewish people, framing his defense within their shared heritage. This strategy highlights how early Christians integrated their new understanding of resurrection in Jesus into the broader framework of Jewish hope.

Acts 23 6 Commentary

Paul masterfully uses his identity as a Pharisee to his advantage. The resurrection was a core belief of the Pharisees, a central tenet of their theology and a significant part of Israel's eschatological hope. By declaring that his trial was for this very hope, Paul leveraged the existing theological divide within the Sanhedrin. He understood that the Sadducees, who rejected resurrection, would vehemently oppose anything that affirmed it. This caused an immediate uproar, with the Pharisees defending the belief and the Sadducees rejecting it, ultimately leading to the dispersal of the Sanhedrin and Paul's escape from their immediate judgment. His statement reveals his unwavering commitment to the gospel message, which is rooted in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the future resurrection of believers.