Acts 23:1-9 ▼

1 Paul, looking steadfastly at the council, said, |Brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day.|

2 The high priest, Ananias, commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.

3 Then Paul said to him, |God will strike you, you whitewashed wall. Do you sit to judge me according to the Law, and command me to be struck contrary to the law?|

4 Those who stood by said, |Do you malign God's high priest?|

5 Paul said, |I did not know, brothers, that he was high priest. For it is written, 'You must not speak evil of a ruler of your people.'|

6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he shouted in the council, |Men and brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. Concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged.|

7 When he had said this, an argument arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.

8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess all of these.

9 A great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees part stood up, and contended, saying, |We find no evil in this man. What if a spirit spoke to him, or an angel?|