Acts 23:8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 23:6-11

Many are the troubles of the righteous, but some way or other the Lord delivereth them out of them all. Paul owned he had experienced the truth of this in the persecutions he had undergone among the Gentiles (see 2 Tim. 3:11): Out of them all the Lord delivered me. And now he finds that he who has delivered does and will deliver. He that delivered him in the foregoing chapter from the tumult of the people here delivers him from that of the elders. I. His own prudence and ingenuity stand him in... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 23:1-10

23:1-10 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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 23:8

For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection ,.... Of the dead, being ignorant of the Scriptures, and the power of God; see Matthew 22:23 . neither angel nor spirit ; the Ethiopic version reads, "nor Holy Spirit": but the sense seems to be, that they did not believe any such species of beings as angels, nor indeed any spirits whatever, which were immaterial or immortal; for as for the spirit or soul of man, they took that to be only the temperament of the body, and that it died... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 23:8

The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection - It is strange, since these denied a future state, that they observed the ordinances of the law; for they also believed the five books of Moses to be a revelation from God: yet they had nothing in view but temporal good; and they understood the promises in the law as referring to these things alone. In order, therefore, to procure them, they watched, fasted, prayed, etc., and all this they did that they might obtain happiness in the present... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 23:8

Verse 8− 8.The Sadducees say. Though Luke maketh mention of three points wherein these sects did dissent, yet shortly after he bringeth − (536) them to two, because there is like respect to be had of spirits and of angels. Therefore, he saith that the Pharisees did confess both; to wit, that the dead shall rise again, and that human and angelical spirits are immortal. And here Luke declareth in what sense the apostle professed himself to be a Pharisee, not because he did subscribe to all their... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 23:1-10

Paul before the Sanhedrim. I. A SUGGESTIVE CONTRAST between corrupt ecclesiasticism and secular power. The bigotry, intolerance, personal animosity, unfairness, fanatical cruelty, all finding abundant confirmation in the history of the persecutions emanating from the papacy. Lysias was cruel because he was reckless and followed bad customs, but Ananias was cruel because he was spiteful and tyrannical. II. THE MASTER 'S PREDICTION FULFILLLED . Such a scene was what the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 23:1-11

Policy. The characteristic quality of an Israelite indeed, as our Lord has taught us, is to be without guile. All kinds of trickery, deceit, false pretences, disguises, dissimulation, as well as downright falsehood, are entirely alien from the true Christian spirit. The man of God walks habitually in an atmosphere of transparent truth. He has nothing to conceal, nothing to simulate. He has to do with the God of truth, who searches all hearts, and from whom no secrets are hid. His one great... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 23:3-10

Things dubious and things certain. There are few passages of Scripture in which there are so many doubtful points in a small space. I. THREE DOUBTFUL POINTS . It is uncertain: 1. What Paul meant by his apologetic remark ( Acts 23:5 ; see Exposition). 2. Whether he was justified in administering such a scathing rebuke, "God shall smite thee," etc. It certainly looks much like the utterance of a man who for the moment has lost his self-control, and there seems to be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 23:8

Neither angel , etc. Is there any connection between this expression and that in Acts 12:15 , "It is his angel" (see Acts 12:9 )? For the statement regarding the Pharisees and Sadducees, see Luke 20:27 . read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 23:8

For the Sadducees say - They believe.No resurrection - Of the dead. By this doctrine they also understood that there was no future state, and that the soul did not exist after death. See the notes on Matthew 22:23.Neither angel - That there are no angels. They deny the existence of good or bad angels. See the notes on Matthew 3:7.Nor spirit - Nor soul. That there is nothing but matter. They were materialists, and supposed that all the operations which we ascribe to mind could be traced to some... read more

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