The beloved physician Luke wrote how Paul defended himself before the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem, and 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. And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided”, and in chapter twenty-three and verse eight of the book of Acts Luke shared how, “the Sadducees say that there is not resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both” where we read:
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit:
but the Pharisees confess both.
The verse begins, “For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit:” Luke began with the words, “for the Sadducees” which means “because, since and on account that the Sadducees whose name means the righteous and were a religious party at the time of Christ among the Jews who denied that the oral law was a revelation of God to the Israelites, and who deemed the written law alone to be obligatory on the nation as the divine authority” “say that there is not resurrection” or “utter, declare and proclaim that a rising from the dead does not exist”, “neither angel” which means “nor do spiritual messengers or envoys from God”, “nor spirit” or “no and not in any way do spiritual beings exist”. Luke shared how the religious group known as the “Sadducees” did not believe in the “raising from the dead, spiritual messengers from God or spiritual beings” at all.
The verse continues, “but the Pharisees confess both.” Luke added the words, “but the Pharisees” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover the members of the sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile. In addition to Old Testament books the Pharisees recognized in oral tradition a standard of belief and life” “confess both” or “assent to, agree with and declare the raising from the dead and the existence of spiritual beings such as angels”. Luke shared how the religious group known as the “Pharisees” believed in the “resurrection” and “spiritual entities such as angels”.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn why the “Sadducees and Pharisees” were divided against one another. The “Sadducees” declared there was no “resurrection” from the dead, but the “Pharisees” said there was. The “Sadducees” proclaimed there were no “angels or spiritual beings”, but the “Pharisees” declared the opposite. We can see how this divided them. God will use these differences to rescue His servant “Paul”, and we shall see how He does in our next verses. For now let us understand, God knows the truth, and His desire is to have a personal, loving relationship with every person who yields to His Son Jesus. God sent His Son Jesus into the world to die for the sins of everyone regardless of what they believe, and when they turn to Him and ask Him for forgiveness for their sins, not only will he “forgive” them, but He will also grant them everlasting life with Him. Let all who read these words surrender to the all knowing God who desires to save them forever.
Next time Luke shares how, “the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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