5 Paul replied, "Brothers, I wasn’t aware that he was the high priest. It is written, You will not speak evil about a ruler of your people."
6 Knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, Paul exclaimed in the council, "Brothers, I’m a Pharisee and a descendant of Pharisees. I am on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead!"
7 These words aroused a dispute between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.
8 This is because Sadducees say that there’s no resurrection, angel, or spirit, but Pharisees affirm them all.
9 Council members were shouting loudly. Some Pharisees who were legal experts stood up and insisted forcefully, "We find nothing wrong with this man! What if a spirit or angel has spoken to him?"
10 The dispute became so heated that the commander feared they might tear Paul to pieces. He ordered soldiers to go down and remove him by force from their midst. Then they took him back to the military headquarters.
11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, "Be encouraged! Just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so too you must testify in Rome."