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?”
Parallel translations
- WEB 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!”
- KJV 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.
- NKJV 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.”
- NASB 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?”
- NLT 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.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Pharisaic scribes rise to defend Paul, conceding a spirit or angel may have spoken to him. His former party finds no fault in him.
Overview
The Pharisees' partial defense unintentionally testifies to Paul's innocence and to the reality of his vision. Their warning not to 'fight against God' echoes Gamaliel's earlier counsel (Acts 5:39). Though they stop short of faith, even Paul's opponents are made to vindicate him as God overrules the proceedings.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 20
- Acts 22:17–18Later, when I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance
- Acts 22:7I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’
- John 12:29The crowd standing there heard it and said that it had thundered. Others said that an angel had spoken to Him.
- Acts 25:25But I found he had done nothing worthy of death, and since he has now appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.
- Acts 23:29I found that the accusation involved questions about their own law, but there was no charge worthy of death or imprisonment.
- Prov 16:7When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him.
- Mark 2:16When the scribes who were Pharisees saw Jesus eating with these people, they asked His disciples, “Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
- Acts 26:31On their way out, they said to one another, “This man has done nothing worthy of death or imprisonment.”
- Acts 5:39But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God.”
- 1 Cor 10:22Are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?
- Acts 9:4He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”
- Luke 23:4Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”
- 1 Sam 24:17and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me with good, though I have rewarded you with evil.
- Acts 11:17So if God gave them the same gift He gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to hinder the work of God?”
- Acts 26:14–19We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice say to me in Hebrew, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
- Luke 5:30But the Pharisees and their scribes complained to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
- Luke 23:22A third time he said to them, “What evil has this man done? I have found in Him no offense worthy of death. So after I punish Him, I will release Him.”
- Luke 23:14–15and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined Him here in your presence and found Him not guilty of your charges against Him.
- Acts 27:23For just last night an angel of God, whose I am and whom I serve, stood beside me
- Acts 23:8For the Sadducees say that there is neither a resurrection, nor angels, nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.
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Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
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