023:005 "I did not know, brethren," replied Paul, "that he was the High Priest; for it is written, `Thou shalt not speak evil of a ruler of Thy people.'"
023:006 Noticing, however, that the Sanhedrin consisted partly of Sadducees and partly of Pharisees, he called out loudly among them, "Brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees. It is because of my hope of a resurrection of the dead that I am on my trial."
023:007 These words of his caused an angry dispute between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly took different sides.
023:008 For the Sadducees maintain that there is no resurrection, and neither angel nor spirit; but the Pharisees acknowledge the existence of both.
023:009 So there arose a great uproar; and some of the Scribes
belonging to the sect of the Pharisees sprang to their feet
and fiercely contended, saying, "We find no harm in the man.
What if a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel——!"
023:010 But when the struggle was becoming violent, the Tribune,
fearing that Paul would be torn to pieces by the people,
ordered the troops to go down and take him from among them
by force and bring him into the barracks.
023:011 The following night the Lord came and stood at Paul's side,
and said, "Be of good courage, for as you have borne faithful
witness about me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear
witness in Rome."
023:012 Now, when daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and solemnly
swore not to eat or drink till they had killed Paul.
023:013 There were more than forty of them who bound themselves
by this oath.
023:014 They went to the High Priests and Elders and said to them, "We have bound ourselves under a heavy curse to take no food till we have killed Paul.