Paul before the Sanhedrin

Paul opens before the council by saying he has lived before God in good conscience, but the high priest Ananias immediately orders him struck on the mouth. Paul denounces the unlawful blow, then, when challenged for speaking against the high priest, answers with a citation from the law and steps back from the insult.

P¹aul looked directly at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have conducted myself before God in all good conscience to this day.” ²At this, the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. ³Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit here to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck.” ⁴But those standing nearby said, “How dare you insult the high priest of God!” ⁵“Brothers,” Paul replied, “I was not aware that he was the high priest, for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’ ”

Knowing the council is divided between Sadducees and Pharisees, Paul declares that he is on trial for the hope of the resurrection of the dead. The assembly splits at once, some Pharisees even defending him, and the dispute becomes so violent that the commander has soldiers remove Paul by force.

⁶Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. It is because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.” ⁷As soon as he had said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. ⁸For the Sadducees say that there is neither a resurrection nor angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. ⁹A great clamor arose, and some scribes from the party of the Pharisees got up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” ¹⁰The dispute grew so violent that the commander was afraid they would tear Paul to pieces. He ordered the soldiers to go down and remove him by force and bring him into the barracks.

That night the Lord stands near Paul, tells him to take courage, and says that as he has testified in Jerusalem, so he must also testify in Rome.

¹¹The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so also you must testify in Rome.”