XXIII. And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said: Men, brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God unto this day.
2And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to smite him on the mouth.
3Then Paul said to him: God will smite thee, thou whited wall. And dost thou sit to judge me according to the law, and command me to be smitten contrary to law?
4And they that stood by said: Revilest thou God's high priest?
5And Paul said: I knew not, brethren, that he is high priest; for it is written: Thou shalt not speak evil of a ruler of thy people.
6And Paul, knowing that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, cried out in the council: Men, brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; for the hope of the resurrection of the dead I am now judged.
7And when he had said this, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the multitude was divided. 8For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but Pharisees acknowledge both.
9And there arose a great clamor; and the scribes of the party of the Pharisees arose, and contended, saying: We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit spoke to him, or an angel?—
10And a great dissension arising, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should be pulled in pieces by them, commanded the soldiery to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.
11And the night following, the Lord stood by him, and said: Be of good courage; for as thou didst fully testify the things concerning me at Jerusalem, so must thou testify also at Rome.