23:6 Then when Paul noticed 19 that part of them were Sadducees 20 and the others Pharisees, 21 he shouted out in the council, 22 “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am on trial concerning the hope of the resurrection 23 of the dead!” 23:7 When he said this, 24 an argument 25 began 26 between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 23:8 (For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, or angel, or spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.) 27 23:9 There was a great commotion, 28 and some experts in the law 29 from the party of the Pharisees stood up 30 and protested strongly, 31 “We find nothing wrong 32 with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”
1 tn Or “captain.”
2 tn Grk “the official of the temple,” a title for the commander of the Jewish soldiers guarding the temple (thus the translation, “the commander of the temple guard”). See L&N 37.91.
3 tn Grk “heard these words.”
4 tn Grk “concerning them,” agreeing with the plural antecedent “these words.” Since the phrase “these words” was translated as the singular “this report,” the singular “concerning it” is used here.
5 tn The optative verb here expresses confused uncertainty.
6 tn Or “captain.”
7 tn Grk “the official [of the temple],” a title for the commander of the Jewish soldiers guarding the temple (thus the translation, “the commander of the temple guard”). See L&N 37.91.
8 tn The Greek term ὑπηρέτης (Juphreth") generally means “servant,” but in the NT is used for many different types of servants. See the note on the word “officers” in v. 22.
9 tn Grk “brought them”; the referent (the apostles) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
10 tn Or “without violence.” It is clear, as well, that the apostles did not resist arrest.
11 tn Grk “for they feared lest they be stoned by the people.” The translation uses a less awkward English equivalent. This is an explanatory note by the author.
12 tn Grk “And he.” Because of the length of the Greek sentence and the tendency of contemporary English style to use shorter sentences, καί (kai) has not been translated here.
13 tn The participle ἐνέγκας (enenka") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
14 tn The word “him” is not in the Greek text but is implied.
15 tn L&N 33.393 has for λοιδορέω (loidorew) “to speak in a highly insulting manner – ‘to slander, to insult strongly, slander, insult.’”
16 tn Grk “said.”
17 tn Or “know.”
18 sn A quotation from Exod 22:28. This text defines a form of blasphemy. Paul, aware of the fact that he came close to crossing the line, backed off out of respect for the law.
19 tn BDAG 200 s.v. γινώσκω 4 has “to be aware of someth., perceive, notice, realize”; this is further clarified by section 4.c: “w. ὅτι foll….Ac 23:6.”
20 sn See the note on Sadducees in 4:1.
21 sn See the note on Pharisee in 5:34.
22 tn Grk “the Sanhedrin” (the Sanhedrin was the highest legal, legislative, and judicial body among the Jews).
23 tn That is, concerning the hope that the dead will be resurrected. Grk “concerning the hope and resurrection.” BDAG 320 s.v. ἐλπίς 1.b.α states, “Of Israel’s messianic hope Ac 23:6 (ἐ. καὶ ἀνάστασις for ἐ. τῆς ἀν. [obj. gen] as 2 Macc 3:29 ἐ. καὶ σωτηρία).” With an objective genitive construction, the resurrection of the dead would be the “object” of the hope.
24 tn The participle εἰπόντος (eiponto") has been translated temporally.
25 tn Or “a dispute” (BDAG 940 s.v. στάσις 3).
26 tn Grk “there came about an argument.” This has been simplified to “an argument began”
27 tn BDAG 55 s.v. ἀμφότεροι 2 has “all, even when more than two are involved…Φαρισαῖοι ὁμολογοῦσιν τὰ ἀ. believe in them all 23:8.” On this belief see Josephus, J. W. 2.8.14 (2.163); Ant. 18.1.3 (18.14).
28 tn Or “clamor” (cf. BDAG 565 s.v. κραυγή 1.a, which has “there arose a loud outcry” here, and Exod 12:30).
29 tn Or “and some scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 4:5.
30 tn Grk “standing up.” The participle ἀναστάντες (anastante") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
31 tn Grk “protested strongly, saying.” L&N 39.27 has “διαμάχομαι: to fight or contend with, involving severity and thoroughness – ‘to protest strongly, to contend with.’…‘some scribes from the party of the Pharisees protested strongly’ Ac 23:9.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant and has not been translated.
32 sn “We find nothing wrong with this man.” Here is another declaration of innocence. These leaders recognized the possibility that Paul might have the right to make his claim.
33 tn The full title στρατηγὸς τοῦ ἱεροῦ (strathgo" tou Jierou; “officer of the temple” or “captain of the temple guard”) is sometimes shortened to στρατηγός as here (L&N 37.91).
34 tn Luke uses this frequent indirect question to make his point (BDF §267.2).
35 tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
36 tn Grk “how he might hand him over to them,” in the sense of “betray him.”