Acts 23:9
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.
Original Language Analysis
ἐγένετο
there arose
G1096
ἐγένετο
there arose
Strong's:
G1096
Word #:
1 of 30
to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e., (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)
μεγάλη
a great
G3173
μεγάλη
a great
Strong's:
G3173
Word #:
4 of 30
big (literally or figuratively, in a very wide application)
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
5 of 30
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἀναστάντες
arose
G450
ἀναστάντες
arose
Strong's:
G450
Word #:
6 of 30
to stand up (literal or figurative, transitive or intransitive)
οἱ
G3588
οἱ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
7 of 30
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
9 of 30
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
μέρους
part
G3313
μέρους
part
Strong's:
G3313
Word #:
10 of 30
a division or share (literally or figuratively, in a wide application)
τῶν
G3588
τῶν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
11 of 30
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Φαρισαίων
that were of the Pharisees
G5330
Φαρισαίων
that were of the Pharisees
Strong's:
G5330
Word #:
12 of 30
a separatist, i.e., exclusively religious; a pharisean, i.e., jewish sectary
λέγοντες
saying
G3004
λέγοντες
saying
Strong's:
G3004
Word #:
14 of 30
properly, to "lay" forth, i.e., (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas g2036 and g5346 generally refer to an
Οὐδὲν
no
G3762
Οὐδὲν
no
Strong's:
G3762
Word #:
15 of 30
not even one (man, woman or thing), i.e., none, nobody, nothing
κακὸν
evil
G2556
κακὸν
evil
Strong's:
G2556
Word #:
16 of 30
worthless (intrinsically, such; whereas g4190 properly refers to effects), i.e., (subjectively) depraved, or (objectively) injurious
τῷ
G3588
τῷ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
19 of 30
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πνεῦμα
a spirit
G4151
πνεῦμα
a spirit
Strong's:
G4151
Word #:
24 of 30
a current of air, i.e., breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively, a spirit, i.e., (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital prin
αὐτῷ
to him
G846
αὐτῷ
to him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
26 of 30
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ἄγγελος
an angel
G32
ἄγγελος
an angel
Strong's:
G32
Word #:
28 of 30
compare g0034) (to bring tidings); a messenger; especially an "angel"; by implication, a pastor
Cross References
Acts 22:7And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?John 12:29The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.Acts 23:29Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.Acts 25:25But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.Acts 26:31And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.Proverbs 16:7When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.Mark 2:16And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?
Historical Context
The Pharisees' statement 'let us not fight against God' echoed Gamaliel's earlier wisdom (Acts 5:39). They recognized that opposing genuine divine revelation would be futile, even if they hadn't fully embraced Christianity.
Questions for Reflection
- How do you respond to partial truth or incomplete understanding in others - with encouragement or frustration?
- What does this teach about how God works progressively in people's understanding of spiritual reality?
Analysis & Commentary
The Pharisees' partial defense - 'We find no evil in this man' - represented limited progress. Their concession that perhaps 'a spirit or an angel' spoke to Paul (referencing Acts 22:6-10) acknowledged supernatural possibility while avoiding Jesus's lordship. This demonstrates how people may accept elements of truth without embracing its full implications.