1. Gazing intently at the high council, Paul began: “Brothers, I have always lived before God with a clear conscience!”
2. Instantly Ananias the high priest commanded those close to Paul to slap him on the mouth.
3. But Paul said to him, “God will slap you, you corrupt hypocrite! What kind of judge are you to break the law yourself by ordering me struck like that?”
4. Those standing near Paul said to him, “Do you dare to insult God’s high priest?”
5. “I’m sorry, brothers. I didn’t realize he was the high priest,” Paul replied, “for the Scriptures say, ‘You must not speak evil of any of your rulers.’”
6. Paul realized that some members of the high council were Sadducees and some were Pharisees, so he shouted, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, as were my ancestors! And I am on trial because my hope is in the resurrection of the dead!”
7. This divided the council—the Pharisees against the Sadducees—
8. for the Sadducees say there is no resurrection or angels or spirits, but the Pharisees believe in all of these.