Acts 23:6
What does Acts 23:6 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 23:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 23:6 means
Seeing the council split between Sadducees and Pharisees, Paul declares himself a Pharisee, born of Pharisees, and states that he is on trial “touching the hope and resurrection of the dead.” He wisely identifies the true issue: the hope God promised, fulfilled and guaranteed by the resurrection. As a Pharisee by training, Paul affirms continuity with Israel’s hope, now realized in Christ’s resurrection, which the New Testament proclaims as central to the gospel. This is not mere strategy; it is truth. Paul’s statement reframes the case from a political disturbance to a theological confession. He testifies that the heart of the controversy is God’s promise of life beyond the grave.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees: touching the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
KJV
King James Version · 1611But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees: touching the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But when Paul saw that half of them were Sadducees and the rest Pharisees, he said in the Sanhedrin, Brothers, I am a Pharisee, and the son of Pharisees: I am here to be judged on the question of the hope of the coming back from the dead.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and Paul having known that the one part are Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, cried out in the sanhedrim, `Men, brethren, I am a Pharisee--son of a Pharisee--concerning hope and rising again of dead men I am judged.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And Paul, knowing that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, cried out in the council: Men, brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees: concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But Paul, knowing that the one part [of them] were of the Sadducees and the other of the Pharisees, cried out in the council, Brethren, I am a Pharisee, son of Pharisees: I am judged concerning the hope and resurrection of [the] dead.
Context
After restoring the conversation to the authority of Scripture, Paul highlights the council’s ideological divide. The Sadducees deny the resurrection, while the Pharisees affirm it. By locating his trial in the question of resurrection hope, Paul moves the dispute onto foundational doctrinal ground. This pivot ignites internal conflict among his accusers and reveals that the real friction concerns God’s redemptive plan. The immediate outcome is not calm deliberation but an uproar. The council’s inability to judge fairly will again necessitate Roman intervention to protect Paul from the violence of the dispute.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 26:5
having knowledge of me from the first, if they be willing to testify, that after the straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
- Matthew 22:23
On that day there came to him Sadducees, they that say that there is no resurrection: and they asked him,
- Acts 22:5
As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and journeyed to Damascus to bring them also that were there unto Jerusalem in bonds to be punished.
- Acts 24:15
having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there shall be a resurrection both of the just and unjust.
- Matthew 10:16
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
- Acts 24:21
except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question before you this day.
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