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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!"
Verse Takeaways
1
Self-Serving Allies
Commentators unanimously explain that the Pharisees' defense of Paul was not a change of heart. Their primary motive was to use Paul as a weapon in their long-standing theological war against the Sadducees over the resurrection. As several scholars note, their passionate hatred for their rivals led them to defend a man they had previously sought to harm, revealing how human conflict can create strange and temporary alliances.
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7
18th Century
Presbyterian
A great cry. A great clamor and tumult.
The scribes. The learned men. They would naturally be the chief speakers.
<…
Strove (διεμαχοντο). Imperfect middle of διαμαχομα, old Attic verb, to fight it out (between, back and forth, fiercely). Here only…
19th Century
Anglican
Let us not fight against God.—If we could receive these words as part of the original text, they would be a remarkably ch…
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Paul’s declaration served to divide the council, with Sadducees on the one side (cf. comment on 4:1) and Pharisees on the other (cf. comment on 5:3…
16th Century
Protestant
There was a great cry. That sedition about which Luke spoke a little before is more plainly expressed in this place; namely, that they wer…
17th Century
Reformed Baptist
And there arose a great cry Or noise, a loud clamour; they began to be very noisy, and to talk loud, and in high spi…
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The Pharisees were correct in the faith of the Jewish church. The Sadducees were no friends to Scripture or divine revelation. They denied a future…
