Page 109 - Acts Student Textbook

COMPARISON OF SADDUCEES AND PHARISEES

SADDUCEES PHARISEES

Origin Maccabean Period
Maccabean Period

Name Means "Separated Ones"?
"Zadokities"?

Social Status Middle Class Laymen
Priestly Aristocracy

Scriptural All of the Oral & Written Law plus the
Question Written Law only (especially Genesis Prophets and Writing sections of the
through Deuteronomy) OT canon

Conservative Progressive
Theology – just the opposite of Pharisees, who – highly developed angelology
were accused of being influenced by – belief in life after death and
Zoroastrianism (cf 23:8) resurrection
– very structured rules for daily life

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The power to persevere through suffering (23:11-35)

In all these discouraging times, what kept Paul going forward? (23:11)

The Lord had once before appeared to Paul to comfort and strengthen him in time of great
persecution (18:9, 10). Here is another personal vision to encourage Paul (cf. 18:9-10; 22:17-19;
27:23-24). Now in that Jerusalem prison, He spoke again. Jesus said, "Take courage" This is a
PRESENT ACTIVE IMPERATIVE. This is the only use of this term in Luke's writings. Paul must have
shared this with Luke. Jesus uses the term several times (cf. Matt. 9:2, 22; 14:27; John 16:33).He told
Paul to cheer up because, as he had testified for Jesus in Jerusalem, so he would in Rome. This
prophecy was fulfilled in the following chapters; however, Paul went, not as he had originally
intended, but as a prisoner. Note again that God was there for Paul in his time of need. Doubtless
Paul was greatly discouraged in that Jerusalem prison. Paul was not a man without discouragement
and doubt. He had hoped to go to Rome, but now it appeared that there was no way to accomplish
that. But God assured Paul that he would not be killed in Jerusalem but would be allowed to continue
to teach for the Lord, even in the capital city of the empire. The Lord is there for us too, but by other
means than by direct revelations.

How serious were Paul’s enemies? (23:12-15)

Luke then records that forty Jews made an oath, swearing with a curse that they would not eat or
drink till they had killed Paul. This, of course, was intended to show both the seriousness and the
urgency of their intent. They meant to accomplish it and to do so quickly. One wonders how it would

59 Uttly, (21:16)
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