Acts 23:9

 

Acts 23:9

(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.

(1611 KJV) And there arose a great cry: and the Scribes that were of the Pharisees part arose, and stroue, saying, Wee finde no euill in this man: but if a spirit or an Angel hath spoken to him, let vs not fight against God.

(1568 Bishop’s Bible) And there arose a great crye: and whe the scribes which were of the pharisees part arose, they stroue, saying, We fynde none euyll in this man: But yf a spirite or an Angel hath spoken to hym, let vs not striue agaynst God.

(1526 Tyndale) And ther arose a great crye and the Scribes which were of the Pharisayes parte arose and strove sayinge: we fynde none evyll in this man. Though a sprete or an angell hath apered to him let vs not stryve agaynst God.

 

Counterfeit Versions

(CSB) The shouting grew loud, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ party got up and argued vehemently: “We find nothing evil in this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”

(NIV) There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. "We find nothing wrong with this man," they said. "What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?"

(NASV) And there occurred a great uproar; and some of the scribes of the Pharisaic party stood up and began to argue heatedly, saying, "We find nothing wrong with this man; suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?"

(AMP) Then a great uproar ensued, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees' party stood up and thoroughly fought the case, [contending fiercely] and declaring, We find nothing evil or wrong in this man. But if a spirit or an angel [really] spoke to him--? Let us not fight against God!

(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.”

(ESV) Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees' party stood up and contended sharply, "We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?"

(CEV) and so there was a lot of shouting. Some of the teachers of the Law of Moses were Pharisees. Finally, they became angry and said, "We don't find anything wrong with this man. Maybe a spirit or an angel really did speak to him."

(NKJV) Footnotes this portion of verse doubting its authenticity

(1901 ASV) And there arose a great clamor: and some of the scribes of the Pharisees part stood up, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: and what if a spirit hath spoken to him, or an angel?

(NLV) The courtroom was filled with noise. Some of the teachers of the Law working with the proud religious law-keepers stood up and said, "We find nothing wrong with this man. What if an angel or spirit has spoken to him?"

(HCSB) The shouting grew loud, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees ' party got up and argued vehemently: "We find nothing evil in this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?"

(NCV) So there was a great uproar. Some of the teachers of the law, who were Pharisees, stood up and argued, "We find nothing wrong with this man. Maybe an angel or a spirit did speak to him."

(RSV) Then a great clamor arose; and some of the scribes of the Pharisees' party stood up and contended, "We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?"

(DOUAY-RHEIMS Roman Catholic) And there arose a great cry. And some of the Pharisees rising up, strove, saying: We find no evil in this man. What if a spirit hath spoken to him, or an angel?

(NAB-Roman Catholic) A great uproar occurred, and some scribes belonging to the Pharisee party stood up and sharply argued, "We find nothing wrong with this man. Suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?"

(NWT-Jehovah’s Witnesses) So there broke out a loud screaming, and some of the scribes of the party of the Pharisees rose and began contending fiercely, saying: “We find nothing wrong in this man; but if a spirit or an angel spoke to him,—.”

 

Textus Receptus - Traditional Text

egeneto de kraugh megalh kai anastanteV oi grammateiV tou merouV twn jarisaiwn diemaconto legonteV ouden kakon euriskomen en tw anqrwpw toutw ei de pneuma elalhsen autw h aggeloV mh qeomacwmen

 

Hort-Westcott - Critical Text

egeneto de kraugh megalh kai anastanteV tineV twn grammatewn tou merouV twn jarisaiwn diemaconto legonteV ouden kakon euriskomen en tw anqrwpw toutw ei de pneuma elalhsen autw h aggeloV

 

Corrupted Manuscripts

This verse is corrupted in the following manuscripts:

Omit “the scribes” and reads “some of the scribes”

Aleph 01 - Sinaiticus - Nineteenth Century Counterfeit
A 02 - Alexandrinus - Fifth century

C 04 - Ephraemi Rescriptus - Fifth century

 

Omits “let us not fight against God”

Aleph 01 - Sinaiticus - Nineteenth Century Counterfeit
A 02 - Alexandrinus - Fifth century

B 03 - Vaticanus - Fourth century

C 04 - Ephraemi Rescriptus - Fifth century

E 08 - Sixth century

 

Manuscripts which agree with the Textus Receptus for this verse

Reads “the scribes”

Byzantine Text (450-1450 A.D.)

 

Contains” let us not fight against God”

Byzantine Text (450-1450 A.D.)

L 020 - Ninth century

P 025 - Ninth century

 

Published Critical Greek Texts with Corruptions

Reads “some of the scribes” instead of “the scribes”

Tischendorf, Constantine - 1869

Tregelles, Samuel - 1857

Alford, Henry - 1849 revised in 1871

Westcott and Hort - 1881

Weiss, Bernhard - 1894

Nestle - 1927 as revised in seventeenth edition in 1941

Nestle-Aland - 1979 - Twenty Sixth Edition

Nestle-Aland - 1993 - Twenty Seventh Edition

United Bible Societies - 1983 - Fourth Edition

Von Soden, Freiherr - 1902

 

Omit “let us not fight against God”

Greisbach, Johann - 1805

Lachmann, Karl - 1842

Tischendorf, Constantine - 1869

Tregelles, Samuel - 1857

Alford, Henry - 1849 revised in 1871

Wordsworth, Christopher - 1856 revised in 1870

Westcott and Hort - 1881

Weiss, Bernhard - 1894

Nestle - 1927 as revised in seventeenth edition in 1941

Nestle-Aland - 1979 - Twenty Sixth Edition

Nestle-Aland - 1993 - Twenty Seventh Edition

United Bible Societies - 1983 - Fourth Edition

Hodges and Farstad - Majority Text 1982 as corrected in 1985

Von Soden, Freiherr - 1902

 

Affected Teaching

In this section of Scripture the Apostle Paul was once again involved in a major theological debate with the Pharisees and the Sadducees. The Pharisees believed in the resurrection, angels, and spirits but the Sadducees did not believe in these. Paul knew that both sects were present and he then went on to proclaim that he believed in the resurrection. This created a great commotion between the two sects. The multitude which was present was also divided which made this an even greater commotion. However, the Scribes which had sided with the Pharisees had deemed Paul to have nothing evil about him and they were obviously following the advice given by Gamaliel in a previous situation. The Pharisees had believed that if an angel or spirit from Heaven had spoken to Paul, then if they harmed him, they would be found fighting against God. (Acts 5:39 KJV) But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

 

The great principle found in this verse is very important because every time unbelievers or even believers fight against the very truth of God in the Bible, they are in reality, fighting against God. This important truth in this verse has been omitted from the modern versions, that is because, the modern translators along with their second and third century Gnostic counterparts are fighting against God by severely tampering with the Word of God. This results in those who use the modern versions are also fighting against God and that is why they cannot grow in the Faith. God can only grow a Christian when they have the true Word of God and not a counterfeit. (Amos 3:3 KJV) Can two walk together, except they be agreed? God cannot produce growth in a believer unless they have the true word of God. How can God bless what He did not say? How can God bless corruption? How can God bless a version that is hostile to His Son and friendly and acceptable to Sodomy? (NIV) Yes by using the modern versions the Christian can also be found fighting against God but the modern versions will never admit this. Stay with the King James Bible and walk in accordance with God!

Back