Acts 23:8 For the Sadducees say that there is neither a resurrection, nor angels, nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

◄ Acts 23:8 ►

New International Version
(The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things.)

New Living Translation
for the Sadducees say there is no resurrection or angels or spirits, but the Pharisees believe in all of these.

English Standard Version
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

Berean Standard Bible
For the Sadducees say that there is neither a resurrection, nor angels, nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

Berean Literal Bible
For indeed Sadducees say there to be no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but Pharisees confess both.

King James Bible
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.

New King James Version
For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection—and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.

New American Standard Bible
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

NASB 1995
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

NASB 1977
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit; but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

Legacy Standard Bible
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

Amplified Bible
For the Sadducees say that there is no [such thing as a] resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees [speak out freely and] acknowledge [their belief in] them all.

Christian Standard Bible
For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, and neither angel nor spirit, but the Pharisees affirm them all.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, and no angel or spirit, but the Pharisees affirm them all.

American Standard Version
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.

Contemporary English Version
The Sadducees do not believe in angels or spirits or that the dead will rise to life. But the Pharisees believe in all of these,

English Revised Version
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
(The Sadducees say that the dead won't come back to life and that angels and spirits don't exist. The Pharisees believe in all these things.)

Good News Translation
For the Sadducees say that people will not rise from death and that there are no angels or spirits; but the Pharisees believe in all three.)

International Standard Version
because the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection and that there is no such thing as an angel or spirit, but the Pharisees believe in all those things.

Majority Standard Bible
For the Sadducees say that there is neither a resurrection, nor angels, nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

NET Bible
(For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, or angel, or spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.)

New Heart English Bible
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess all of these.

Webster's Bible Translation
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.

Weymouth New Testament
For the Sadducees maintain that there is no resurrection, and neither angel nor spirit; but the Pharisees acknowledge the existence of both.

World English Bible
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess all of these.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
for Sadducees, indeed, say there is no resurrection, nor messenger, nor spirit, but Pharisees confess both.

Berean Literal Bible
For indeed Sadducees say there to be no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but Pharisees confess both.

Young's Literal Translation
for Sadducees, indeed, say there is no rising again, nor messenger, nor spirit, but Pharisees confess both.

Smith's Literal Translation
For truly the Sadducees say there is no rising up, neither messenger, nor spirit: and the Pharisees acknowledge both.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For the Sadducees claim that there is no resurrection, and neither angels, nor spirits. But the Pharisees confess both of these.

New American Bible
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection or angels or spirits, while the Pharisees acknowledge all three.

New Revised Standard Version
(The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, or angel, or spirit; but the Pharisees acknowledge all three.)

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
For the Sad’du-cees say there is no resurrection, neither angels nor soul: but the Phar’i-sees believe in them.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
For The Sadducees were saying there is no resurrection, neither Angel, nor spirit, but The Pharisees confess all of these.

NT Translations

Anderson New Testament
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection; neither angel nor spirit: but the Pharisees acknowledge both. And there arose a great clamor. And the scribes, on the part of the Pharisees, arose and contended, saying:

Godbey New Testament
For the Sadducees indeed say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.

Haweis New Testament
For the Sadducees say indeed, that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.

Mace New Testament
for the Sadducees maintain, there is neither resurrection, nor angel, or spirit, whereas the Pharisees acknowledge both: the clamour was great,

Weymouth New Testament
For the Sadducees maintain that there is no resurrection, and neither angel nor spirit; but the Pharisees acknowledge the existence of both.

Worrell New Testament
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees acknowledge both.

Worsley New Testament
For the sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the pharisees acknowledge both.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Paul Before the Sanhedrin
…7As soon as he had said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8For the Sadducees say that there is neither a resurrection, nor angels, nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. 9A 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?”…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Matthew 22:23
That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus and questioned Him.

Mark 12:18
Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus and questioned Him:

Luke 20:27
Then some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to question Him.

1 Corinthians 15:12-13
But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? / If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.

1 Corinthians 15:42-44
So will it be with the resurrection of the dead: What is sown is perishable; it is raised imperishable. / It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. / It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

1 Corinthians 15:52
in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

Philippians 3:11
and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Philippians 3:21
who, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.

2 Timothy 2:18
who have deviated from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already occurred, and they undermine the faith of some.

Hebrews 11:35
Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused their release, so that they might gain a better resurrection.

Exodus 3:6
Then He said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

Exodus 3:15-16
God also told Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered in every generation. / Go, assemble the elders of Israel and say to them, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—has appeared to me and said: I have surely attended to you and have seen what has been done to you in Egypt.

Deuteronomy 32:39
See now that I am He; there is no God besides Me. I bring death and I give life; I wound and I heal, and there is no one who can deliver from My hand.

Job 19:25-27
But I know that my Redeemer lives, and in the end He will stand upon the earth. / Even after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God. / I will see Him for myself; my eyes will behold Him, and not as a stranger. How my heart yearns within me!

Psalm 16:10
For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay.

Treasury of Scripture

For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.

Acts 4:1
And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,

Matthew 22:23
The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,

Mark 12:18
Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying,

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Acts 23

1. As Paul pleads his cause,
2. Ananias commands them to strike him.
7. Dissension among his accusers.
11. God encourages him.
14. The Jews' vow to kill Paul,
20. is declared unto the chief captain.
27. He sends him to Felix the governor.

Berean Study Bible

For the Sadducees say
The Sadducees were a sect of Judaism during the Second Temple period, known for their aristocratic status and priestly lineage. The Greek root for "Sadducees" is "Σαδδουκαῖοι" (Saddoukaioi), which is believed to be derived from Zadok, a high priest during the time of King David and Solomon. Historically, the Sadducees held significant power in the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council. Their beliefs were heavily influenced by their desire to maintain the status quo and their collaboration with Roman authorities. This phrase sets the stage for understanding the theological and political tensions present in the narrative.

there is neither a resurrection
The Sadducees' denial of the resurrection is a critical theological point. The Greek word for "resurrection" is "ἀνάστασις" (anastasis), meaning a rising up or standing again. This belief, or lack thereof, distinguished them sharply from the Pharisees, who believed in the resurrection of the dead. The Sadducees' rejection of the resurrection reflects their focus on the Torah, where they found no explicit mention of life after death. This belief had profound implications for their worldview, emphasizing the importance of this life over any future hope.

nor angels
The Sadducees also denied the existence of angels, spiritual beings who serve as messengers and agents of God. The Greek word for "angels" is "ἄγγελοι" (angeloi), which means messengers. Angels are mentioned throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, playing crucial roles in God's interactions with humanity. By denying angels, the Sadducees rejected a significant aspect of Jewish tradition and scripture, which often depicted angels as intermediaries between God and man.

nor spirits
The term "spirits" in Greek is "πνεύματα" (pneumata), referring to non-corporeal beings or the essence of life. The Sadducees' denial of spirits further underscores their materialistic worldview, focusing solely on the physical and tangible. This belief contrasts with the Pharisaic view, which accepted the existence of spirits and the spiritual realm, aligning more closely with the broader Jewish tradition that acknowledged spiritual realities beyond human perception.

but the Pharisees acknowledge them all
In contrast to the Sadducees, the Pharisees accepted the resurrection, angels, and spirits. The Greek word for "acknowledge" is "ὁμολογοῦσιν" (homologousin), meaning to confess or agree. The Pharisees' beliefs were rooted in a broader interpretation of the Hebrew Scriptures, including the oral traditions that later became the Talmud. Their acknowledgment of these spiritual realities reflects a more comprehensive theological framework that embraced both the written and oral law, emphasizing the hope of resurrection and the active presence of spiritual beings in God's plan. This distinction between the two groups highlights the diverse theological landscape of first-century Judaism and sets the stage for the early Christian proclamation of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(8) The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection.--On the general teaching of the Sadducees, see Note on Matthew 22:23. Their denial of the existence of angels and spirits seems at first inconsistent with the known facts that they acknowledged the divine authority of the Pentateuch, which contains so many narratives of angelophanies, and were more severe than others in their administration of the Law. The great body of the higher priestly class were, we know, mere Sadducees (Acts 5:17); and what, on their principles, was the meaning of the Temple ritual? They were, in fact, carried along by one of the great waves of thought which were then passing over the ancient world, and were Epicureans and Materialists without knowing it, just as the Pharisees were, even to the eye of a writer like Josephus (Life, c. 3), the counterpart of the Stoics. For them the "angels" of the Pentateuch were not distinct beings, but evanescent manifestations of the divine glory.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 8. - Neither angel, etc. Is there any connection between this expression and that in Acts 12:15, "It is his angel" (see ver. 9)? For the statement regarding the Pharisees and Sadducees, see Luke 20:27.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

For
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

[the] Sadducees
Σαδδουκαῖοι (Saddoukaioi)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4523: Probably from Sadok; a Sadducaean, or follower of a certain heretical Israelite.

say
λέγουσιν (legousin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

there is
εἶναι (einai)
Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

neither
μὴ (mē)
Adverb
Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.

a resurrection,
ἀνάστασιν (anastasin)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 386: A rising again, resurrection. From anistemi; a standing up again, i.e. a resurrection from death (its author), or a recovery.

nor
μήτε (mēte)
Conjunction
Strong's 3383: Nor, neither, not even, neither…nor. From me and te; not too, i.e. neither or nor; also, not even.

angels,
ἄγγελον (angelon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 32: From aggello; a messenger; especially an 'angel'; by implication, a pastor.

nor
μήτε (mēte)
Conjunction
Strong's 3383: Nor, neither, not even, neither…nor. From me and te; not too, i.e. neither or nor; also, not even.

spirits,
πνεῦμα (pneuma)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4151: Wind, breath, spirit.

but
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

[the] Pharisees
Φαρισαῖοι (Pharisaioi)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 5330: Of Hebrew origin; a separatist, i.e. Exclusively religious; a Pharisean, i.e. Jewish sectary.

acknowledge
ὁμολογοῦσιν (homologousin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 3670: From a compound of the base of homou and logos; to assent, i.e. Covenant, acknowledge.

them all.
ἀμφότερα (amphotera)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 297: Both (of two). Comparative of amphi; both.

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NT Apostles: Acts 23:8 For the Sadducees say that there (Acts of the Apostles Ac)