Acts 23 8

Acts 23:8 kjv

For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.

Acts 23:8 nkjv

For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection?and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.

Acts 23:8 niv

(The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things.)

Acts 23:8 esv

For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

Acts 23:8 nlt

for the Sadducees say there is no resurrection or angels or spirits, but the Pharisees believe in all of these.

Acts 23 verses

Acts 23 8 Meaning

Acts 23:8 explains the fundamental theological disagreement between two major Jewish factions, the Sadducees and the Pharisees, particularly on matters of the afterlife and the spiritual realm. It states that the Sadducees denied the existence of a future resurrection, as well as the reality of angels and disembodied spirits. In contrast, the Pharisees affirmed belief in all these concepts: the resurrection of the dead, the existence of angels, and the reality of spirits. This verse provides crucial background for understanding the religious tensions of the era and the strategic move Paul made during his trial before the Sanhedrin.

Acts 23 8 Context

Acts chapter 23 begins with Paul, having been saved from a mob, brought before the Sanhedrin—the supreme Jewish council. After his initial attempt to defend himself is met with hostility from the high priest, Paul discerns the deep-seated theological rift within the council itself. Knowing that the Sanhedrin was comprised of both Sadducees and Pharisees, and remembering his own past as a Pharisee, Paul shrewdly declares, "I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; it is because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial!" This declaration directly precipitates the situation explained in verse 8, highlighting the core points of contention that divided these two powerful groups in Jewish society. Historically, the Sadducees, mostly wealthy aristocratic priests, accepted only the written Torah (Pentateuch) as binding law, while the Pharisees, a more popular and legalistic sect, accepted the entire Hebrew Bible along with a rich oral tradition. Their differing interpretations led to profound disagreements on eschatology and the supernatural.

Acts 23 8 Word analysis

• For (γὰρ - gar): This conjunction introduces the reason or explanation for the preceding statement, specifically Paul's tactic in Acts 23:6. It clarifies why stating his belief in resurrection caused a schism in the Sanhedrin.
• the Sadducees (οἱ Σαδδουκαῖοι - hoi Saddoukaioi): The Greek transliteration of the Hebrew Tsaddukim. They were a conservative, aristocratic priestly class, distinct in their theological beliefs. Their authority was tied to the Temple and its rituals.
• say (λέγουσιν - legousin): Present tense verb, indicating an ongoing and established doctrine or position. It reflects their commonly known and actively propagated belief system.
• that there is no resurrection (ἀνάστασιν μὴ εἶναι - anastasin mē einai): This denies the belief in bodily resurrection after death.
  • ἀνάστασιν (anastasin): Literally "a standing up again" or "rising up." This refers to the future raising of the dead to life. The Sadducees denied this, likely because it is not explicitly and repeatedly detailed in the Pentateuch, which was their sole authoritative text.
  • μὴ εἶναι (mē einai): A strong negation, asserting that resurrection absolutely "does not exist."
• neither angel (μηδὲ ἄγγελον - mēde aggelon): This is a compound negative ("nor...").
  • ἄγγελον (aggelon): Meaning "messenger," referring to supernatural divine beings often mentioned throughout Scripture. Sadducees' denial again stems from their exclusive reliance on the Pentateuch, where explicit references to named angels or their complex roles are less prominent compared to later Old Testament books (like Daniel).
• nor spirit (μηδὲ πνεῦμα - mēde pneuma): Another compound negative.
  • πνεῦμα (pneuma): Meaning "wind, breath, spirit." Here it likely refers to non-material, incorporeal beings, whether disembodied human spirits after death or other spiritual entities (like demons, or the Holy Spirit). Their rejection highlights a largely materialistic worldview concerning the spiritual realm.
• but (ὁ δὲ - ho de): A strong adversative particle, emphasizing a direct and absolute contrast between the two groups.
• the Pharisees (οἱ Φαρισαῖοι - hoi Pharisaios): From Hebrew perushim, meaning "separated ones." They were a more populist, scholarly, and pious group, revered for their strict adherence to the Law and traditions.
• confess both (ὁμολογοῦσιν τὰ ἀμφότερα - homologousin ta amphotera):
  • ὁμολογοῦσιν (homologousin): "To speak the same thing," "to agree," "to confess," "to acknowledge openly." It implies public affirmation and conviction.
  • τὰ ἀμφότερα (ta amphotera): Literally "the two things" or "both." This plural pronoun encapsulates all three points previously denied by the Sadducees: resurrection, angels, and spirits. The Pharisees believed in all these aspects of the unseen world and the afterlife.

Acts 23 8 Bonus section

The theological chasm described in Acts 23:8 has significant ramifications beyond Paul's trial. It reveals a critical pre-existing foundation within Judaism upon which early Christianity built. The Sadducees' rejection of the resurrection meant they opposed the central tenet of the gospel: Christ's rising from the dead (1 Cor 15:14). Conversely, the Pharisees' acceptance of resurrection, angels, and spirits made their worldview more open to the New Testament's theological landscape. This foundational agreement on key doctrines allowed for dialogue and conversion from the Pharisaic ranks into early Christianity (e.g., Acts 15:5). The Sadducean party's power, being largely linked to the Temple priesthood, waned significantly after the Temple's destruction in A.D. 70, leaving Pharisaic thought to form the basis of subsequent Rabbinic Judaism, which retained the beliefs outlined as distinct from Sadducean doctrine in this verse. Paul's strategic declaration was thus not merely a trick; it was a deeply theological statement reflecting his genuine, though now Christian, convictions that resonated strongly with the Pharisaic viewpoint.

Acts 23 8 Commentary

Acts 23:8 encapsulates the essential doctrinal fault line within Judaism that Paul so expertly exploited to create dissension within the Sanhedrin. The Sadducees, clinging to a rigorous, literal, and limited interpretation of the Mosaic Law (Torah), systematically rejected doctrines not explicitly detailed there, leading them to deny resurrection, the existence of angels, and any spirits separate from physical bodies. This put them in direct opposition to the teachings of Jesus, who affirmed resurrection using Pentateuchal reasoning (e.g., God is the God of the living, Mt 22:32). In stark contrast, the Pharisees, representing a broader theological tradition encompassing the entire Old Testament and extensive oral tradition, strongly affirmed these supernatural and eschatological beliefs. Paul, identifying himself as a Pharisee who believed in the resurrection (now validated by Christ's own resurrection), threw this long-standing disagreement into sharp relief, causing the Sanduhedrin to fragment in fierce debate, shifting focus from Paul to their own profound divisions.