Acts 23:9

Myles Coverdale Bible

And there was made a greate crye. And ye Scrybes of the Pharyses secte, stode vp, and stroue, and sayde: We fynde no euell in this ma. But yf a sprete or an angell haue spoke vnto him, let vs not stryue agaynst God.

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
All these Jews began shouting louder and louder. Some of the teachers of the law, who were Pharisees, stood up and argued, "We find nothing wrong with this man. Maybe an angel or a spirit really did speak to him."

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And ther arose a great crye and the Scribes which were of the Pharisayes parte arose and strove sayinge: we fynde none evyll in this man. Though a sprete or an angell hath apered to him let vs not stryve agaynst God.

Hebrew Names Version
A great clamor arose, and some of the Sofrim of the Perushim part stood up, and contended, saying, "We find no evil in this man. But if a spirit or angel has spoken to him, let's not fight against God!"

International Standard Version
There was a great deal of shouting until some of the scribes who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and argued forcefully, "We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?"Acts 5:39; 25:25; 26:31;">[xr]

New American Standard Bible
And a great uproar occurred; and some of the scribes of the Pharisaic party stood up and started arguing heatedly, saying, "We find nothing wrong with this man; suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?"

New Century Version
So there was a great uproar. Some of the teachers of the law, who were Pharisees, stood up and argued, "We find nothing wrong with this man. Maybe an angel or a spirit did speak to him."

Update Bible Version
And there arose a great clamor: and some of the scribes of the Pharisees part stood up, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: and what if a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel?

Webster's Bible Translation
And there arose a great cry: and the scribes [that were] of the Pharisees' part arose, and contended, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.

English Standard Version
Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees' party stood up and contended sharply, "We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?"

World English Bible
A great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees part stood up, and contended, saying, "We find no evil in this man. But if a spirit or angel has spoken to him, let's not fight against God!"

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And there was a great clamour: and the scribes of the Pharisees side arising, contended, saying, We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.

Weymouth's New Testament
So there arose a great uproar; and some of the Scribes belonging to the sect of the Pharisees sprang to their feet and fiercely contended, saying, "We find no harm in the man. What if a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel----!"

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And a greet cry was maad. And summe of Farisees rosen vp, and fouyten, seiynge, We fynden no thing of yuel in this man; what if a spirit, ether an aungel spak to hym?

English Revised Version
And there arose a great clamour: and some of the scribes of the Pharisees' part stood up, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: and what if a spirit hath spoken to him, or an angel?

Berean Standard Bible
A great clamor arose, and some scribes from the party of the Pharisees got up and contended sharply, "We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?"

Contemporary English Version
and so there was a lot of shouting. Some of the teachers of the Law of Moses were Pharisees. Finally, they became angry and said, "We don't find anything wrong with this man. Maybe a spirit or an angel really did speak to him."

Amplified Bible
Then a great uproar occurred, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees' party stood up and began to argue heatedly [in Paul's favor], saying, "We find nothing wrong with this man; suppose a spirit or an angel has [really] spoken to him?"

American Standard Version
And there arose a great clamor: and some of the scribes of the Pharisees' part stood up, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: and what if a spirit hath spoken to him, or an angel?

Bible in Basic English
And there was a great outcry: and some of the scribes on the side of the Pharisees got up and took part in the discussion, saying, We see no evil in this man: what if he has had a revelation from an angel or a spirit?

Complete Jewish Bible
So there was a great uproar, with some of the Torah-teachers who were on the side of the P'rushim standing up and joining in — "We don't find anything wrong with this man; and if a spirit or an angel spoke to him, what of it?"

Darby Translation
And there was a great clamour, and the scribes of the Pharisees' part rising up contended, saying, We find nothing evil in this man; and if a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel …

Etheridge Translation
And there was made a great noise. And certain sophree of the choice of the Pharishee arose and contended with them, and said, We have not found any thing of evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken with him, what is there in this ?

Murdock Translation
And there was great vociferation. And some Scribes of the party of the Pharisees rose up, and contended with them, and said. We have found nothing evil in this man: for if a spirit or an angel hath conversed with him, what is there in that?

King James Version (1611)
And there arose a great cry: and the Scribes that were of the Pharisees part arose, and stroue, saying, Wee finde no euill in this man: but if a spirit or an Angel hath spoken to him, let vs not fight against God.

New Living Translation
So there was a great uproar. Some of the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees jumped up and began to argue forcefully. "We see nothing wrong with him," they shouted. "Perhaps a spirit or an angel spoke to him."

New Life Bible
The courtroom was filled with noise. Some of the teachers of the Law working with the proud religious law-keepers stood up and said, "We find nothing wrong with this man. What if an angel or spirit has spoken to him?"

New Revised Standard
Then a great clamor arose, and certain scribes of the Pharisees' group stood up and contended, "We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?"

Geneva Bible (1587)
Then there was a great crye: and the Scribes of the Pharises part rose vp, and stroue, saying, Wee finde none euill in this man: but if a spirit or an Angel hath spoken to him, let vs not fight against God.

George Lamsa Translation
Then there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the party of the Phar''i-sees rose up, and argued, saying, We find no fault with this man: and if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, there is nothing wrong in that.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And there arose a great outcry, and certain of the Scribes of the party of the Pharisees, standing up, began to strive, saying - Nothing bad, find we in this man; - but, if a spirit hath spoken unto him, or a messenger…

Douay-Rheims Bible
And there arose a great cry. And some of the Pharisees rising up, strove, saying: We find no evil in this man. What if a spirit hath spoken to him, or an angel?

Revised Standard Version
Then a great clamor arose; and some of the scribes of the Pharisees' party stood up and contended, "We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?"

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And there arose a great crye: and whe the scribes which were of the pharisees part arose, they stroue, saying, We fynde none euyll in this man: But yf a spirite or an Angel hath spoken to hym, let vs not striue agaynst God.

Good News Translation
The shouting became louder, and some of the teachers of the Law who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and protested strongly: "We cannot find a thing wrong with this man! Perhaps a spirit or an angel really did speak to him!"

Christian Standard Bible®
The shouting grew loud, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ party got up and argued vehemently: “We find nothing evil in this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”

King James Version
And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.

Lexham English Bible
And there was loud shouting, and some of the scribes from the party of the Pharisees stood up and contended sharply, saying, "We find nothing wrong with this man! But what if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?"

Literal Translation
And there was a great cry. And the scribes of the part of the Pharisees rising up, they were contending, saying, We find nothing evil in this man. And, If a spirit spoke to him, or an angel, let us not fight against God.

Young's Literal Translation
And there came a great cry, and the scribes of the Pharisees' part having arisen, were striving, saying, `No evil do we find in this man; and if a spirit spake to him, or a messenger, we may not fight against God;'

Mace New Testament (1729)
and the Scribes taking part with the Pharisees, grew warm in the debate, and said, "we find no harm in this man; perhaps a spirit or an angel has spoke to him."

New English Translation
There was a great commotion, and some experts in the law from the party of the Pharisees stood up and protested strongly, "We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?"

New King James Version
Then there arose a loud outcry. And the scribes of the Pharisees' party arose and protested, saying, "We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God." [fn]

Simplified Cowboy Version
People were on their feet and screaming at each other like the Hatfields and McCoys. Then some influential Pharisees shouted over the ruckus, "He hasn't said anything wrong! What if it was an angel who spoke to him? What if God is behind all of this?"

New American Standard Bible (1995)
And there occurred a great uproar; and some of the scribes of the Pharisaic party stood up and began to argue heatedly, saying, "We find nothing wrong with this man; suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?"

Legacy Standard Bible
And there occurred a great outcry; and some of the scribes of the Pharisaic party stood up and began to argue heatedly, saying, "We find nothing wrong with this man. Suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?"

Contextual Overview

⁶ But whan Paul knewe that the one parte was Saduces, and the other parte Pharises, he cried out in ye councell: Ye men and brethren, I am a Pharise, and the sonne of a Pharise, Of hope and resurreccion of the deed am I iudged. ⁷ And whan he had so sayde, there arose a dissencion betwene ye Pharises and the Saduces, and the multitude was deuyded: ⁸ for the Saduces saye that there is no resurreccion, nether angell, ner sprete: but the Pharises graute both. ⁹ And there was made a greate crye. And ye Scrybes of the Pharyses secte, stode vp, and stroue, and sayde: We fynde no euell in this ma. But yf a sprete or an angell haue spoke vnto him, let vs not stryue agaynst God. ¹⁰ But whan the discension was greate, ye vpper captayne feared, that Paul shulde haue bene pluckte a sonder of them, and commaunded the soudyers to go downe, and to take him from them, and to brynge him in to the castell. ¹¹ But in the nighte folowinge, the LORDE stode by him, and sayde: Be of good cheare Paul, for as thou hast testified of me at Ierusalem so must thou testifye at Rome also.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

We: Acts 25:25, Acts 26:31, 1 Samuel 24:17, Proverbs 16:7, Luke 23:4, Luke 23:14, Luke 23:15, Luke 23:22

if: Acts 23:8, Acts 9:4, Acts 22:7, Acts 22:17, Acts 22:18, Acts 26:14-19, Acts 27:23, John 12:29

let: Acts 5:39, Acts 11:17, 1 Corinthians 10:22

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 12:5 - ye have Psalms 35:1 - fight Jeremiah 26:16 - General Matthew 2:4 - scribes Matthew 15:1 - scribes Luke 20:39 - thou Ephesians 3:3 - by 2 Timothy 2:24 - strive

Cross-References

Romans 12:17
Recompese vnto no man euell for euell. Prouyde honestie afore hade towarde euery ma.

Romans 13:8
Owe nothinge to eny man, but to loue one another. For he that loueth another, hath fulfylled the lawe.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And there arose a great cry,.... Or noise, a loud clamour; they began to be very noisy, and to talk loud, and in high spirits, one against another:

and the Scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose; there were Scribes in the sanhedrim, and these were some of them on the side of the Sadducees, and some on the side of the Pharisees; though, generally speaking, they agreed with the latter, and are often in Scripture mentioned with them, and for them: however, that part in this sanhedrim that were on their side rose up from their seats,

and strove; that is, contended, disputed, and litigated the point with the Sadducees:

saying, we find no evil in this man; why he should be hated, persecuted, and punished:

but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him; that is, if the Holy Spirit, as the Ethiopic version reads, has inspired him, or God by an angel has revealed anything to him, who has to say anything against it? This they said in agreement with their own principles, and more for the sake of establishing them, and in opposition to the Sadducees, than in favour of Paul:

let us not fight against God; as in Acts 5:39. These words are not in the Alexandrian copy, nor in the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

A great cry - A great clamor and tumult.

The scribes - The learned men. They would naturally be the chief speakers.

Of the Pharisees’ part - Who were Pharisees, or who belonged to that party. The scribes were not a distinct sect, but might be either Pharisees or Sadducees.

We find no evil in this man - No opinion which is contrary to the Law of Moses; no conduct in spreading the doctrine of the resurrection which we do not approve. The importance of this doctrine, in their view, was so great as to throw into the background all the other doctrines that Paul might hold; and, provided this were propagated, they were willing to vindicate and sustain him. A similar testimony was offered to the innocence of the Saviour by Pilate, John 19:6.

But if a spirit or an angel ... - They here referred, doubtless, to what Paul had said in Acts 22:17-18. He had declared that he had gone among the I Gentiles in obedience to a command which he received in a vision in the temple. As the Pharisees held to the belief of spirits and angels, and to the doctrine that the will of God was often delivered to people by their agency, they were ready now to admit that he had received such a communication, and that he had gone among the Gentiles in obedience to it, to defend their great doctrine of the resurrection of the dead. We are not to suppose that the Pharisees had become the friends of Paul or of Christianity. The true solution of their conduct doubtless is, that they were so inflamed with hatred against the Sadducees that they were willing to make use of any argument against their doctrine. As the testimony of Paul might be turned to their account, they were willing to vindicate him. It is remarkable, too, that they perverted the statement of Paul in order to oppose the Sadducees. Paul had stated distinctly Acts 22:17-18 that he had been commanded to go by the Lord, meaning the Lord Jesus. He had said nothing of “a spirit or an angel.” Yet they would unite with the Sadducees so far as to maintain that he had received no such command from the Lord Jesus. But they might easily vary his statements, and suppose that an “angel or a spirit” had spoken to him, and thus make use of his conduct as an argument against the Sadducees. Men are not always very careful about the exact correctness of their statements when they wish to humble a rival.

Let us not fight against God - See the notes on Acts 5:39. These words are missing in many mss. and in some of the ancient versions. The Syriac reads it, “If a spirit or an angel have spoken to him, what is there in this?” that is, what is there unusual or wrong?

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 23:9. The scribes - arose, and strove — διεμαχοντο, They contended forcibly-they came to an open rupture with the Sadducees; and, in order to support their own party against them, they even admitted as truth, St. Paul's account of his miraculous conversion, and therefore they said, if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, c. He had previously mentioned that Jesus Christ had appeared to him, when on his way to Damascus and, though they might not be ready to admit the doctrine of Christ's resurrection, yet they could, consistently with their own principles, allow that the soul of Christ might appear to him; and they immediately caught at this, as furnishing a strong proof against the doctrine of the Sadducees, who neither believed in angel nor spirit, while the Pharisees confessed both.

Let us not fight against God. — These words are wanting in ABCE, several others, with the Coptic, AEthiopic, Armenian, later Syriac, Vulgate, and some of the fathers.