Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 23:7
And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.
7. and the multitude [ Rev. Ver. assembly] was divided ] The verb in the original is that from which our English “schism” is derived, and this points to the character of the division. God made the division work for the safety of his servant, as He many times brings good out of evil.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
A dissension – A dispute, or difference.
And the multitude – The council. Compare Act 14:4. The Pharisees embraced, as he desired and expected, his side of the question, and became his advocates, in opposition to the Sadducees, who were arrayed against him.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 7. And the multitude was divided] St. Paul, perceiving the assembly to consist of Sadducees and Pharisees, and finding he was not to expect any justice, thought it best thus to divide the council, by introducing a question on which the Pharisees and Sadducees were at issue. He did so; and the Pharisees immediately espoused his side of the question, because in opposition to the Sadducees, whom they abhorred, as irreligious men.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Not only of the common people, or standers-by, but of the senators and judges; God by this means dividing and infatuating of them, that they could not bring about Pauls intended destruction.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And when he had so said,…. He stopped and made a pause:
and there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; about the things which he had spoken of, particularly the resurrection of the dead; and this was what the apostle intended, so that his end was answered by the speech he made:
and the multitude was divided; that is, the members of the sanhedrim were divided, some being on one side of the question, and some on the other; for this multitude cannot design the multitude of the common people, who were not convened together on this occasion.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
When he had so said ( ). Genitive absolute of present participle (Westcott and Hort) rather than aorist (). While he was saying this.
A dissension (). This old word for standing or station (Heb 9:8) from , to place, we have seen already to mean insurrection (Ac 19:40 which see). Here it is strife as in 15:2.
Was divided (). See on 14:4.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “And when he had so said,” (touto de auto lalountos) “Then as he repeatedly affirmed this matter,” of hope in the resurrection of the dead, as embraced and espoused by the Pharisees and by Paul, Act 23:8; Php_3:5.
2) “There arose a dissension,” (egeneto stasis) “There came to be (to exist), there became a state of discord,” in the council, among members of the Sanhedrin, a cleavage, a sharp division of sentiment and emotions, between the jury of judges who evaluated his testimony, Act 22:30; Act 23:1.
3) “Between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: (ton Pharisaion kai Saddaukaion) “Of the Pharisees and the Sadducees,” who held conflicting views on the subject of the resurrection of the dead, as set forth Act 23:8.
4) “And the multitude was divided.” (kai eschisthe to plethos) “And the multitude was (also) divided,” unsettled on the matter. Not only were members of the Sanhedrin, the adjudicating council divided, but also those who had cried against him in the mob multitude; The witnesses were divided, Act 21:34. They contradicted each other before the high priest, Ananias and the chief captain, Lysias, Act 22:29-30; Act 23:1-2. Herein was set forth a basic truth in controversy “divide and you may thereby command.”
Tho Paul and the Pharisees differed in their application of the doctrine of the resurrection of all men, they agreed on the fact of it. Paul’s use of this was therefore warranted, and used with astute integrity, since he was before a prejudiced jury anyway.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(7) There arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees.As a strategic act St. Pauls words had immediately the effect which he desired. They prevented the hasty unanimous vote which might otherwise have united the two parties, as they had been united in the case of Stephen, in the condemnation of the blasphemer. What follows shows that it was not without results as regards the higher aim.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
7. Divided Paul aimed not merely to divide and conquer, but to gain a part of the audience.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided, for the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees confess both.’
This immediately made the Pharisees wake up and concentrate on the case, and they then began to take up certain points that they had previously let slip by, recognising the truth in what Paul had drawn their attention to. They may have been sceptical about angels speaking to Paul but they were not sceptical about angels in general. They believed firmly in them. So they now argued that it was not reasonable to dismiss his claims simply on the grounds that angels did not exist. Perhaps angels had spoken to Paul. Who could tell?
This then led to dissension between the two sides as they argued the possibility of angels speaking at all, and whether the resurrection could occur. After all, Paul’s defence, assuming that it was anything like that before the crowds, had included references to angels, and to the resurrection (note Act 22:9-11 where this is made clear). So the truth or not of these questions was not a side issue, it was important. His case was bound to be dismissed by the Sadducees, who considered such things ridiculous, but surely it should not be viewed like that by the Pharisees? Surely they should give it more careful consideration.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.
Ver. 7. A dissension betwixt the Pharisees ] So among Papists, the priests disparage the Jesuits, the Jesuits the priests, the priests again the monks, the monks the friars, and the Jesuits all.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Act 23:7 . : There is no difficulty in supposing that this dissension took place in the Assembly; it may have been no sudden result, because the Apostle had evidently said much more than is mentioned in the preceding verse (see above), and there is good evidence that one of the fundamental differences between the two sects was concerned with the question which St. Paul had raised, Edersheim, Jesus the Messiah , i., 315; Jos., Ant. , xviii., 1, 4; B.J. , ii., 8, 14. ., n. , ii., 39, and instances in Wetstein.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
so said = spoken (Greek. laleo. App-121.) this.
dissension. Greek. stasis. See note on Act 15:2.
between = of.
multitude. Greek. plethos. See Act 2:6.
divided. Greek. schizo. See note on Act 14:4.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Act 23:7. , the multitude) of the assessors on the tribunal, who favoured each (either) of the two sects respectively.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
there: Act 14:4, Psa 55:9, Mat 10:34, Joh 7:40-43
Reciprocal: Zec 11:14 – I cut Joh 7:43 – General Joh 10:19 – General Act 5:34 – stood Act 7:2 – Men
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
7
Act 23:7. Paul’s declaration of faith in the doctrine of the resurrection, divided the multitude and set them at variance among themselves.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 23:7. And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees. The effect of Pauls words was to suggest to one of the great parties, the Pharisees, that after all, the chief doctrines taught by this man and his fellow-believers were much more akin to their own school of teaching than were the doctrines of their rivals the Sadducees. It would surely never do, thought the Pharisee leaders, to unite with the Sadducees here, and do to death one who really is helping us and doing our work in opposition to those hateful unbelieving Sadducees.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Observe here, 1. How sad a state, and how bad a condition, was the Jewish church now in, when in the Sanhedrin, or great council, men had power and authority, who believed in no life but this; and what hypocrites were the Pharisees, who could thus incorporate and embody with damnable heretics, the Sadducees, and yet at the same time hated and persecuted the Christians. The Sadducees were so far from believing that there was any spirit, that they blasphemously maintained, that God himself was no spiritual, but only corporeal being. When men sin with obstinacy against supernatural light, God justly withdraws from them even natural light, and suffers them to fall from one degree of error to another.
Observe, 2. How partiality will change men’s judgments, according to the interest of a party or faction. The Pharisees were bitter enemies to the apostle; but, because he owned himself of their sect, they instantly took part with him, and cry, We find no fault with him. The feuds about religion are commonly the sharpest feuds; men are more fond of the notions of their brains, than they are of the issue of their bodies. Odia Religiosorum sunt acerbissima; “Religious hates are hottest.”
Observe, 3. How the dissensions of God’s adversaries oft-times become the deliverance of God’s servants. Thus here the Pharisees and Sadducees quarrel about the resurrection: the Pharisees justify St. Paul, and tell them that oppose him, “They are in danger of fighting against God.” Thus God when he pleaseth, can find or make patrons of his people, and raise up friends from amongst his very enemies, to defend his cause.
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
See notes on verse 6
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
23:7 {6} And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.
(6) The agreement between the wicked is weak, even though they conspire together to oppress the truth.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Paul’s belief in the resurrection divided the Sanhedrin. The Sadducees denied the resurrection as well as the existence of (good) angels and (evil) spirits, but the Pharisees believed in these things. [Note: See my comments on 4:1 and 5:34. See Bock, Acts, pp. 671-2, for six views of what the Sadducees believed about angels, and Witherington, pp. 692-93, for discussion of the view that both terms refer to deceased persons.]