231 Paul , looking intently at the Council , said , " Brethren e , I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day ." 2 The high priest Ananias commanded those standing beside him to strike him on the mouth . 3 Then Paul said to him, "God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall ! Do you sit to try me according to the Law , and in violation of the Law order me to be struck ?" 4 But the bystanders said , "Do you revile God's high priest ? 5 And Paul said , "I was not aware , brethren , that he was high priest ; for it is written , ' YOU SHALL NOT SPEAK EVIL OF A RULER OF YOUR PEOPLE .' "
6 But perceiving that one group were Sadducees and the other Pharisees , Paul began crying out in the Council , " Brethren e , I am a Pharisee , a son of Pharisees ; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead !" 7 As he said this , there occurred a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees , and the assembly was divided . 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection , nor an angel , nor a spirit , but the Pharisees acknowledge them all . 9 And there occurred a great uproar ; and some of the scribes of the Pharisaic party stood up and began to argue heatedly , saying , " We find nothing wrong with this man ; suppose e a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?" 10 And as a great dissension was developing , the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them and ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force , and bring him into the barracks . 11 But on the night immediately following , the Lord stood at his side and said , " Take courage ; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause e at Jerusalem , so you must witness at Rome also ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Acts 23:1-11
Commentary on Acts 23:1-5
(Read Acts 23:1-5)
See here the character of an honest man. He sets God before him, and lives as in his sight. He makes conscience of what he says and does, and, according to the best of his knowledge, he keeps from whatever is evil, and cleaves to what is good. He is conscientious in all his words and conduct. Those who thus live before God, may, like Paul, have confidence both toward God and man. Though the answer of Paul contained a just rebuke and prediction, he seems to have been too angry at the treatment he received in uttering them. Great men may be told of their faults, and public complaints may be made in a proper manner; but the law of God requires respect for those in authority.
Commentary on Acts 23:6-11
(Read Acts 23:6-11)
The Pharisees were correct in the faith of the Jewish church. The Sadducees were no friends to the Scripture or Divine revelation; they denied a future state; they had neither hope of eternal happiness, nor dread of eternal misery. When called in question for his being a Christian, Paul might truly say he was called in question for the hope of the resurrection of the dead. It was justifiable in him, by this profession of his opinion on that disputed point, to draw off the Pharisees from persecuting him, and to lead them to protect him from this unlawful violence. How easily can God defend his own cause! Though the Jews seemed to be perfectly agreed in their conspiracy against religion, yet they were influenced by very different motives. There is no true friendship among the wicked, and in a moment, and with the utmost ease, God can turn their union into open enmity. Divine consolations stood Paul in the most stead; the chief captain rescued him out of the hands of cruel men, but the event he could not tell. Whoever is against us, we need not fear, if the Lord stand by us. It is the will of Christ, that his servants who are faithful, should be always cheerful. He might think he should never see Rome; but God tells him, even in that he should be gratified, since he desired to go there only for the honour of Christ, and to do good.