Σαδδουκαῖοι μὲν γὰρ λέγουσι μὴ εἶναι ἀνάστασιν μήτε ἄγγελον μήτε πνεῦμα, Φαρισαῖοι δὲ ὁμολογοῦσι τὰ ἀμφότερα
Acts 23:8 provides a succinct summary of the theological differences between the Sadducees and the Pharisees—one of the most significant internal divisions within first-century Judaism. Paul, aware of this division, strategically references the resurrection in verse 6 to cause division among his accusers. The Greek text here is compact and balanced, using a μὲν…δὲ construction to contrast belief systems.
Grammatical Foundations
Σαδδουκαῖοι μὲν γὰρ λέγουσι μὴ εἶναι ἀνάστασιν μήτε ἄγγελον μήτε πνεῦμα—“For the Sadducees say there is neither a resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit.”
- Σαδδουκαῖοι—nominative plural, subject of λέγουσι.
- μὲν… δὲ—classic correlative particles used to contrast two clauses: “on the one hand… on the other hand.”
- γάρ—“for,” introducing an explanation of the division described in the previous verse.
- λέγουσι—present active indicative, 3rd person plural from λέγω, “they say.”
- μὴ εἶναι—negative infinitive construction; εἶναι is the present infinitive of εἰμί, “to be.”
- ἀνάστασιν, ἄγγελον, πνεῦμα—accusative singular objects of the infinitive; “resurrection,” “angel,” “spirit.”
- μήτε…μήτε—“neither… nor”; coordinating negative conjunctions used with infinitives or nouns.
Φαρισαῖοι δὲ ὁμολογοῦσι τὰ ἀμφότερα—“But the Pharisees confess both.”
- Φαρισαῖοι—nominative plural, subject of ὁμολογοῦσι.
- ὁμολογοῦσι—present active indicative, 3rd person plural from ὁμολογέω, “they confess” or “acknowledge.”
- τὰ ἀμφότερα—accusative neuter plural, “both,” referring back to “angel” and “spirit,” and implicitly “resurrection.”
Exegetical and Theological Implications
Luke explains the Pharisaic and Sadducean worldviews to a Gentile audience. The Sadducees’ denial of resurrection, angels, and spirits reflects their allegiance to a more limited canon (primarily the Torah) and a rationalistic theology. The Pharisees, by contrast, affirm these doctrines and align more with Jesus’ teachings on the afterlife and spiritual beings.
This theological divide has practical implications in Acts 23: Paul shrewdly exploits it to redirect attention and create dissension among his interrogators. Luke’s presentation reinforces the idea that Christian resurrection hope is rooted more in Pharisaic than Sadducean eschatology.
Linguistic and Historical Perspectives
ὁμολογέω in Jewish and Christian contexts is often used for public confession of belief. Here, it emphasizes the Pharisees’ open acknowledgment of spiritual realities. ἀνάστασις was a contested term; the Sadducees rejected bodily resurrection, while Pharisees accepted it as part of the coming age.
The phrase τὰ ἀμφότερα (“the two things”) is a classical expression denoting a full pairing. Though three items are listed for the Sadducees’ denial, the phrase likely summarizes “angel” and “spirit” together as one category and “resurrection” as the other.
Table: Verbal and Structural Features in Acts 23:8
| Text | Greek Phrase | Form | Function / Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acts 23:8 | μὲν… δὲ | Adversative conjunction pair | Sets up a contrast between Sadducees and Pharisees |
| Acts 23:8 | μὴ εἶναι ἀνάστασιν μήτε ἄγγελον μήτε πνεῦμα | Infinitive clause with negative conjunctions | “There is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit” |
| Acts 23:8 | ὁμολογοῦσι τὰ ἀμφότερα | Present active verb + accusative neuter plural | “They acknowledge both”; public theological confession |
The Verse as a Paradigm of Koine Greek Richness
Acts 23:8 uses the elegant μὲν…δὲ contrast and carefully structured negatives to present a theological fault line. Koine Greek allows Luke to summarize entire doctrinal systems in a single verse. The clarity of form reflects the clarity of the divide: resurrection and spiritual realities are not marginal—what one believes about them shapes one’s entire worldview.
