Acts 23:1-9 ▼

1 Then Paul directing himself to the council, thus said, "hitherto I have liv'd strictly conscientious, as God knows."

2 at which the high priest Ananias order'd those that were near him to strike him on the face:

3 which made Paul say, "may God strike thee, thou plaister'd wall: you sit to judge me according to law, and in defiance of the law you order me to be struck!"

4 what, said the standers-by, do you revile the high priest of God?

5 Paul replied, I did not consider, brethren, that he was the high priest, it is indeed written, "thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people."

6 But as Paul knew that one part of the Sanhedrim were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out, my brethren, "I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee, and I am now prosecuted for believing the resurrection of the dead."

7 at these words the Pharisees and the Sadducees were all in confusion, the whole assembly being divided:

8 for the Sadducees maintain, there is neither resurrection, nor angel, or spirit, whereas the Pharisees acknowledge both: the clamour was great,

9 and the Scribes taking part with the Pharisees, grew warm in the debate, and said, "we find no harm in this man; perhaps a spirit or an angel has spoke to him."