Acts 23:6

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. But when Paul perceived - from the discussion which plainly had by this time arisen between the parties, That the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out - raising his voice above both parties, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee - `a son of Pharisees' is the best attested reading; in which case the meaning is, belonging to a family who from father to son had long been such. Of the hope and resurrection of the dead - that is (as good critics take it), 'of the hope of a resurrection of the dead;' or (with others), 'of the Messianic hope in general, as...

− 6._And when Paul knew. _The policy − (529) of Paul, whereof Luke maketh mention, doth seem not to beseem the servant of Christ. For the subtilty which he used was inwrapped in dissimulation, which was not far from a lie. He saith that the state of his cause did consist in the resurrection of the dead: but we know that the strife arose about other matters: because he disannulled the ceremonies, because he admitted the Gentiles into the covenant of salvation. I answer, that though these things be true, yet did not he lie. For he doth neither deny that he was accused of other matters, neither doth this make the whole controversy to consist in one point; but he saith truly that the Sadducees were therefore offended with him, because he did hold the resurrection of the dead. He knew that those who had conspired together against him were enemies also one to another. − (530)

6-11 The Pharisees were correct in the faith of the Jewish church. The Sadducees were no friends to the Scripture or Divine revelation; they denied a future state; they had neither hope of eternal happiness, nor dread of eternal misery. When called in question for his being a Christian, Paul might truly say he was called in question for the hope of the resurrection of the dead. It was justifiable in him, by this profession of his opinion on that disputed point, to draw off the Pharisees from persecuting him, and to lead them to protect him from this unlawful violence. How easily can God defend his own cause! Though the Jews seemed to be perfectly agreed in their conspiracy against religion, yet they were influenced by very different motives. There is no true friendship among the wicked, and in a moment, and with the utmost ease, God can turn their union into open enmity. Divine consolat...

Verse Acts 23:6. _I AM A PHARISEE, THE SON OF A PHARISEE_] Instead of φαρισαιου, _of a Pharisee_, ABC, some others, with the _Syriac_ and _Vulgate_, have φαρισαιων, _of the Pharisees_; which, if acknowledged to be the genuine reading, would alter the sense thus, _I am a Pharisee, and a disciple of the Pharisees_, for so the word _son_ is frequently understood. _OF THE HOPE AND RESURRECTION_] Concerning the hope of the resurrection, the και, _and_, being here redundant; indeed, it is omitted by the _Syriac_, all the _Arabic_, and _AEthiopic_. St. Paul had preached the resurrection of the dead, on the foundation and evidence of the resurrection of Christ. For _this_, he and the apostles were, some time before, imprisoned by the high priest and elders,...

BUT WHEN PAUL PERCEIVED - Probably by his former acquaintance with the men who composed the council. As he had been brought up in Jerusalem, and had been before acquainted with the Sanhedrin Acts 9:2, he would have an acquaintance, doubtless, with the character of most of those present, though he had been absent from them for fourteen years, Galatians 2:1. THE ONE PART ... - That the council was divided into two parts, Pharisees and Sadducees. This was commonly the case, though it was uncertain which had the majority. In regard to the opinions of these two sects, see the notes on Matthew 3:7. HE CRIED OUT ... - The reaso

EXPOSITION ACTS 23:1 _Looking steadfastly on _for _earnestly beholding, _A.V.; _brethren _for _men and brethren, _A.V._; I have lived before God, _etc., for _I have lived, _etc., _before God, _A.V. LOOKING STEADFASTLY; ἀτενίσας, as in Acts 1:10; Acts 3:4, Acts 3:12; Acts 6:15; Acts 7:55; Acts 10:4;...

BUT WHEN PAUL PERCEIVED THAT THE ONE PART WERE SADDUCEES,.... That is, that one part of the sanhedrim consisted of Sadducees, which was often the case; sometimes the high priest was of this sect, as Ananias probably was, and sometimes the greater part of the sanhedrim were Sadducees, and even sometimes the whole; Acts 5:17, but this sanhedrim were only part of them Sadducees: AND THE OTHER PHARISEES; of both these sects, Matthew 3:7. HE CRIED OUT IN THE COUNCIL; with a loud voice, that he might be heard by all: MEN AND BRETHREN, I AM A PHARISEE; he was not only brought up in that sect from his youth, and lived according to it before his conversion, but he was still a Pharisee; wherefore he does not say, I "was", but I "am" a Pharisee; for

SADDUCEES (_ See Scofield) - (Matthew 3:7). _...

ACTS 22:30 TO ACTS 23:10. PAUL BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN. This is a difficult section, and does not advance the action. Unless the proceedings took place in Greek, the tribune would scarcely secure his object of learning the charge against Paul; it is strange that he should have called a meeting of the Sanhedrin for this purpose, which could be reached otherwise. Paul is released from his chains and faces the court without them, and without the presence of military. He begins a speech which was to explain his position, but is rudely interrupted; he has not been asked to speak, and might be regarded as treating the court without respect. He retorts with applying an abusive epithet to the High Priest who had ordered the interruption. The and before his question ...

Paul fixed his gaze on the Sanhedrin and said, "Brethren, I have lived before God with a completely pure conscience up to this day." The high priest Ananias ordered those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. Paul said to him, "God is going to strike you, you white-washed wall! Do you sit judging me according to the Law and do you order me to be struck and so break the Law?" Those who were standing beside him said, "Are you insulting God's high priest?" Paul said, "I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest. If I had known I would not have spoken so, for it stands written, 'You must not speak evil of a ruler of your people.'" Now Paul knew that one section of them were Sadducees and the other section were Pharisees, so he shouted out in the Sanhedrin, "Brethren, I am a Pharisee and the son of Pharisees, and I am on trial for the hope of the resurrection of the dead." Wh...