Acts 23 7

Acts 23:7 kjv

And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.

Acts 23:7 nkjv

And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the assembly was divided.

Acts 23:7 niv

When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.

Acts 23:7 esv

And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.

Acts 23:7 nlt

This divided the council ? the Pharisees against the Sadducees ?

Acts 23 verses

Acts 23 7 Meaning

When Paul strategically declared his identity as a Pharisee on trial concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead, it immediately provoked a fierce dispute between the two dominant factions within the Sanhedrin—the Pharisees and the Sadducees—resulting in the entire assembly splitting into two hostile groups. Paul's tactic successfully diverted their unified hostility away from himself by exploiting their deeply rooted theological differences.

Acts 23 7 Context

Paul had been seized in the Jerusalem Temple and, after being saved from a mob by Roman soldiers, was brought before the Sanhedrin (the highest Jewish religious court) by the Roman commander Lysias to determine the accusations against him. The Sanhedrin was comprised primarily of two rival sects: the Pharisees and the Sadducees. The Sadducees, often from the priestly aristocracy, did not believe in the resurrection, angels, or spirits, accepting only the written Torah. The Pharisees, a broader movement, held to a belief in all these, along with oral tradition, and were known for their strict adherence to the Law. Aware of this deep doctrinal chasm, Paul seized the moment in Acts 23:6 to declare himself a Pharisee, asserting that his trial was concerning the "hope and the resurrection of the dead," thus pitting the two factions against each other, setting the stage for the dissension described in verse 7.

Acts 23 7 Word analysis

• "When he had said this": (Greek: kai tauta autou lalountos) - Signifies an immediate and direct cause-and-effect relationship. Paul's words were delivered intentionally to produce this precise outcome.
• "a dissension arose": (Greek: egeneto stasis)
  • Egeneto (ἐγένετο): "came into being," "arose," indicating a sudden occurrence.
  • Stasis (στάσις): Means a standing, position, faction, or often, internal strife, dissension, insurrection, sedition. Here, it denotes a vehement, disruptive disagreement leading to factionalism within a group. It is stronger than a simple argument; it implies an agitated, nearly riotous confrontation.
• "between the Pharisees and the Sadducees": Explicitly names the two key opposing religious-political parties in Jewish society at the time, particularly within the Sanhedrin. This highlights the precise target of Paul's strategic declaration.
• "and the assembly was divided": (Greek: kai eschisthē to plēthos)
  • Eschisthē (ἐσχίσθη): Past tense, passive voice, from schizo (σχίζω), meaning "to split," "tear asunder," "cleave apart." The passive voice implies the assembly was forcibly ripped apart by the controversy, becoming distinct, separate factions. This is a powerful image of deep, fundamental disagreement.
  • To plēthos (τὸ πλῆθος): "the multitude," "the crowd," or here, "the assembly" of the Sanhedrin. It indicates the entire body of the council members.
• Words-group analysis:
  • "When he had said this, a dissension arose...": This phrasing underscores Paul's masterful timing and precise target. His words acted as a potent catalyst, immediately triggering the long-standing, volatile theological fault line within the Sanhedrin, which he exploited for his own defense.
  • "...between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.": Paul deliberately ignited the known rivalry between these groups. By centering the trial's premise on the resurrection—a core doctrine for the Pharisees but heresy for the Sadducees—Paul shifted the Sanhedrin's unified focus away from himself to their internal, intractable conflict, effectively disrupting the proceedings and ensuring they could not present a united front against him.

Acts 23 7 Bonus section

• Paul's declaration was more than a mere tactical distraction; it connected his arrest to the central message of Christianity – the resurrection of Jesus, which underpins the "hope" he spoke of. Thus, his "defense" inadvertently placed the Gospel's truth at the very heart of the Sanhedrin's deliberations.
• This incident demonstrates the inherent disunity within official Judaism concerning fundamental theological truths at the time of Christ and the apostles. The inability of the Sanhedrin to find unity on doctrines as crucial as resurrection meant their authority and internal cohesion were deeply fractured, which was a significant factor in the spread of Christianity, as it offered a unified message.
• The intervention of the Roman commander (Lysias), twice mentioned saving Paul from the Jewish council, underscores Roman authority overriding Jewish judicial power in this period and Paul's divinely protected pathway toward his mission in Rome (Acts 23:11).
• The immediate transition from a religious trial to a civil dispute (or inter-factional conflict) meant the Sanhedrin's primary purpose for convening—trying Paul for his alleged transgressions—was completely derailed, emphasizing the effectiveness of Paul's strategic move.

Acts 23 7 Commentary

Acts 23:7 vividly illustrates Paul's spiritual astuteness and tactical brilliance under intense pressure. Facing a Sanhedrin unified in its opposition to him, he cleverly employed his knowledge of its composition. By explicitly aligning himself with the Pharisees' core belief in the resurrection of the dead, Paul created an immediate and violent internal schism. This was not a passive observation; it was a deliberate and divinely permitted maneuver. The ensuing "dissension" (stasis) prevented the council from reaching a consensus verdict against Paul, as their animosity towards each other outweighed their unified desire to condemn him. This disruption demonstrates how God uses human wisdom and existing conflicts to protect His servants and advance His sovereign plan. Ultimately, Paul's cunning action resulted in the Romans intervening again to extract him from the escalating internal chaos, leading to his safety and setting the stage for his eventual journey to Rome as God had planned.