23:9a
great clamor: Here this phrase refers to the loud noise caused by many people arguing very loudly at the same time.
23:9b
some scribes from the party of the Pharisees: Many scribes were members of the Pharisee group. Some of these scribes stood up and spoke.
scribes: The scribes were scholars who studied, taught, and interpreted the law of Moses, as well as related Jewish laws and traditions. Most scribes were Pharisees, but not all Pharisees were scribes Some ways to translate this term are:
experts in the Law of Moses
-or-
teachers of religious law (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
expert teachers on Moses’ law
-or-
teachers of religion
See how you translated this phrase in 4:5 or 6:12.
23:9c
contended sharply: This phrase indicates that the scribes contended even more strongly and loudly than they had earlier (23:7). The Greek grammar probably indicates that they argued in this way for some time. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
started arguing loudly
-or-
began to argue forcefully (New Living Translation (2004))
23:9d
(New American Standard Bible) saying: The Greek word which the New American Standard Bible translates literally as saying indicates here that main point of what the teachers of the law argued was: “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” For example:
saying, “We find nothing wrong… (New American Standard Bible)
The New American Standard Bible places the word saying before the spoken words. Place it where it would be most natural in your language.
We find nothing wrong with this man: This clause indicates that these scribes decided/judged that Paul had done nothing wrong for which someone should punish him. Other ways to translate this clause are:
We cannot find a thing wrong with this man! (Good News Translation)
-or-
We find no fault with this man (Revised English Bible)
-or-
This person is not guilty
-or-
We(excl) have not found any evil in this man
23:9e
What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?:
This is probably a rhetorical question. The teachers of the law wanted to support Paul because he believed that God would resurrect people, as they did. Translate it with that meaning. Some ways are:
• As a rhetorical question. For example:
Suppose a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel? (New Jerusalem Bible)
• As a statement. For example:
Perhaps a spirit or an angel really did speak to him. (Good News Translation)
a spirit or an angel: See how you translated spirit and angel in 23:8.
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