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Sunday, July 20th, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Read the Bible

THE MESSAGE

Acts 23:7

The moment he said this, the council split right down the middle, Pharisees and Sadducees going at each other in heated argument. Sadducees have nothing to do with a resurrection or angels or even a spirit. If they can't see it, they don't believe it. Pharisees believe it all. And so a huge and noisy quarrel broke out. Then some of the religion scholars on the Pharisee side shouted down the others: "We don't find anything wrong with this man! And what if a spirit has spoken to him? Or maybe an angel? What if it turns out we're fighting against God?"

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Court;   Diplomacy;   Sadducees;   Strife;   Tact;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Sadducees, the;   Strife;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Sadducees;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Paul;   Sadducees;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Pharisees;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Ordination;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Pharisees;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Gamaliel;   Hell;   Pharisees;   Sadducees;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Sanhedrin;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Caesarea;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Assembly;   Eschatology;   Sanhedrin (2);   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Pharisees;   Sanhedrin or Sanhedrim;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Claudius;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Sad'ducees;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Metempsychosis;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Eschatology of the Old Testament (with Apocryphal and Apocalyptic Writings);  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.
King James Version (1611)
And when hee had so said, there arose a dissension betweene the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was diuided.
King James Version
And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.
English Standard Version
And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.
New American Standard Bible
When he said this, a dissension occurred between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.
New Century Version
When Paul said this, there was an argument between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the group was divided.
Amplified Bible
When he said this, an angry dispute erupted between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the [whole crowded] assembly was divided [into two factions].
New American Standard Bible (1995)
As he said this, there occurred a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.
Legacy Standard Bible
As he said this, there was dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.
Berean Standard Bible
As soon as he had said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.
Contemporary English Version
As soon as Paul said this, the Pharisees and the Sadducees got into a big argument, and the council members started taking sides.
Complete Jewish Bible
When he said this, an argument arose between the P'rushim and the Tz'dukim, and the crowd was divided.
Darby Translation
And when he had spoken this, there was a tumult of the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the multitude was divided.
Easy-to-Read Version
When Paul said this, a big argument started between the Pharisees and the Sadducees. The group was divided.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And when hee had saide this, there was a dissension betweene the Pharises and the Sadduces, so that the multitude was deuided.
George Lamsa Translation
And when he had said this, there arose a dissension between the Phar''i-sees and the Sad''du-cees: and the people were divided.
Good News Translation
As soon as he said this, the Pharisees and Sadducees started to quarrel, and the group was divided.
Lexham English Bible
And when he said this, a dispute developed between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.
Literal Translation
And he having spoken this, there was a discord between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the multitude was divided.
American Standard Version
And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees; and the assembly was divided.
Bible in Basic English
And when he had said this, there was an argument between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and a division in the meeting.
Hebrew Names Version
When he had said this, an argument arose between the Perushim and Tzedukim, and the assembly was divided.
International Standard Version
After he said that, an angry quarrel broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.
Etheridge Translation
And when he had said this, the Pharishee and the Zadukoyee fell on one another, and the people was divided.
Murdock Translation
And when he had said this, the Pharisees and Sadducees fell upon one another, and the people were divided
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And when he had so sayde, there arose a debate betwene the pharisees and the saducees, & the multitude was deuided.
English Revised Version
And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees: and the assembly was divided.
World English Bible
When he had said this, there arose an argument between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And when he had said this, there arose a contention between the Pharisees and the Saducees: and the multitude was divided.
Weymouth's New Testament
These words of his caused an angry dispute between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly took different sides.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And whanne he hadde seid this thing, dissencioun was maad bitwixe the Fariseis and the Saduceis, and the multitude was departid.
Update Bible Version
And when he had said this, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees; and the assembly was divided.
Webster's Bible Translation
And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.
New English Translation
When he said this, an argument began between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.
New King James Version
And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the assembly was divided.
New Living Translation
This divided the council—the Pharisees against the Sadducees—
New Life Bible
When they heard this, both religious groups started to argue and the people of the court were divided in what they thought.
New Revised Standard
When he said this, a dissension began between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, as this he was saying, there arose a dissension of the Pharisees and Sadducees; and rent asunder was the throng.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees. And the multitude was divided.
Revised Standard Version
And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sad'ducees; and the assembly was divided.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And when he had so sayde ther arose a debate bitwene the Pharisayes and ye Saduces and the multitude was devided.
Young's Literal Translation
And he having spoken this, there came a dissension of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees, and the crowd was divided,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And whan he had so sayde, there arose a dissencion betwene ye Pharises and the Saduces, and the multitude was deuyded:
Mace New Testament (1729)
at these words the Pharisees and the Sadducees were all in confusion, the whole assembly being divided:
Simplified Cowboy Version
And just like that, the High Council was split in two like a bronc through a branding crew. The Sadducees on one side and the Pharisees on the other.

Contextual Overview

6 Paul, knowing some of the council was made up of Sadducees and others of Pharisees and how they hated each other, decided to exploit their antagonism: "Friends, I am a stalwart Pharisee from a long line of Pharisees. It's because of my Pharisee convictions—the hope and resurrection of the dead—that I've been hauled into this court." 7The moment he said this, the council split right down the middle, Pharisees and Sadducees going at each other in heated argument. Sadducees have nothing to do with a resurrection or angels or even a spirit. If they can't see it, they don't believe it. Pharisees believe it all. And so a huge and noisy quarrel broke out. Then some of the religion scholars on the Pharisee side shouted down the others: "We don't find anything wrong with this man! And what if a spirit has spoken to him? Or maybe an angel? What if it turns out we're fighting against God?" 10 That was fuel on the fire. The quarrel flamed up and became so violent the captain was afraid they would tear Paul apart, limb from limb. He ordered the soldiers to get him out of there and escort him back to the safety of the barracks. 11 That night the Master appeared to Paul: "It's going to be all right. Everything is going to turn out for the best. You've been a good witness for me here in Jerusalem. Now you're going to be my witness in Rome!"

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

there: Acts 14:4, Psalms 55:9, Matthew 10:34, John 7:40-43

Reciprocal: Zechariah 11:14 - I cut John 7:43 - General John 10:19 - General Acts 5:34 - stood Acts 7:2 - Men

Cross-References

Genesis 19:1
The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening. Lot was sitting at the city gate. He saw them and got up to welcome them, bowing before them and said, "Please, my friends, come to my house and stay the night. Wash up. You can rise early and be on your way refreshed." They said, "No, we'll sleep in the street."
Genesis 23:17
That's how Ephron's field next to Mamre—the field, its cave, and all the trees within its borders—became Abraham's property. The town council of Hittites witnessed the transaction. Abraham then proceeded to bury his wife Sarah in the cave in the field of Machpelah that is next to Mamre, present-day Hebron, in the land of Canaan. The field and its cave went from the Hittites into Abraham's possession as a burial plot.
Proverbs 18:24
Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family.
Hebrews 12:14
Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you'll never get so much as a glimpse of God. Make sure no one gets left out of God's generosity. Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time. Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God's lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. You well know how Esau later regretted that impulsive act and wanted God's blessing—but by then it was too late, tears or no tears.
1 Peter 3:8
Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that's your job, to bless. You'll be a blessing and also get a blessing. Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good, Here's what you do: Say nothing evil or hurtful; Snub evil and cultivate good; run after peace for all you're worth. God looks on all this with approval, listening and responding well to what he's asked; But he turns his back on those who do evil things.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

A dissension - A dispute, or difference.

And the multitude - The council. Compare Acts 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.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 23:7. 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.


 
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