Floyd Parker, «The Terms "Angel" and "Spirit" in Acts 23,8», Vol. 84 (2003) 344-365
In any discussion of the Sadducees, there will always remain a certain amount of doubt due to the paucity of sources about them. Based on what data has survived, the older theory that the Sadducees rejected the extravagant beliefs about angels and spirits provides the most convincing solution to the problem of Acts 23,8. The Sadducees’ reasons for rejecting these views were twofold: 1) angels were integrated into the apocalyptic world view that they rejected; and 2) angels often served as God’s servants to administer predestination or providence. Thus, when Paul claimed that a heavenly being had appeared to him in a manner and with a message that appeared to be predestinarian in nature, the Sadducees were unwilling to entertain the idea that an angel or spirit had appeared to him. Certainly new theories will arise in an attempt to grapple with this issue, but to re-appropriate the words of Jesus in Luke 5,39, "the old is good enough".
In the review and evaluation of the literature, several key items have emerged that help to formulate rudimentary criteria for explaining the significance of "angel" and "spirit". A theory should fit well with known facts about what the Sadducees deny and the Pharisees affirm (which goes without saying, since all the contributors have attempted to do this). It should maintain a distinction between "angel" and "spirit", as Lachs, Viviano, and Taylor pointed out. And, as Daube and Le Moyne indicated, it should consistently apply any assigned definitions of the terms "angel" or "spirit" in Acts 23,8 to the appearance of Jesus to Paul mentioned in 23,9.
None of the four theories examined is completely adequate as formulated60. Yet, of all the theories, I believe that the Sadducean rejection of angelic speculation retains the most explanatory power, even though it too has several weak points that need shoring up. In the section that follows, I will attempt to show how this theory fulfills the criteria mentioned in the preceding paragraph and, with modifications, makes the most sense in interpreting Acts 23,8.
1. Criterion One: Facts Related to the Sadducees
This criterion is satisfied by linking the Sadducees’ rejection of angels and spirits to their rejection of the apocalyptic world view and fate. The first item is probably secure as it stands, for it is difficult to imagine the Sadducees endorsing a world view so contrary to their own. This is because the apocalyptic world view is characterized by determinism (e.g. Dan 2,29-45; ApcBar(syr) 27; Jub 1,29; 32,21; 1QS 11.11) instead of free will, as well as by resurrection or immortality of the soul rather than annihilation at death. However, the demonstration of a connection between fate and supernatural beings, such as angels and spirits, requires a bit of demonstration, for, as far as I am aware, this notion has been asserted but not proven.
In several passages Josephus relates the range of beliefs held by groups of his day concerning fate: the Sadducees deny fate altogether, favoring free will; the Essenes attribute everything to fate, and the