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—