Acts 23:6-10 ESV
6 Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.” 7 And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. 9 Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees' party stood up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?” 10 And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks.

DIVISION IN THE COUNCIL

The Sanhedrin regulated the practice of Judaism. It was comprised of priests, elders, and scribes, whereby most of them were experts in the Mosaic law. Most of all the priests members of the council belong to the sect of the Sadducees. They followed the Mosaic law only, that is, the first five books of Scripture with no additional regulation. And they tended to be wealthy and got along with the Romans. They believed there is no resurrection from the dead. To their thinking, any blessings God gives will come in this lifetime, so a person needs to get their benefits now.

The Pharisees, however, also followed the Oral Law, which their scribes claimed came from Moses. This is in addition to their belief to the written Law in the Pentateuch. Pharisees believed in the resurrection from the dead. They liked power and money, but they didn't want to risk their chance for more power and riches in the afterlife, so they followed extra-biblical rules. Unlike the Saducees, they disliked the Romans.

The Pharisees and Sadducees’ validations came from the people who saw them as great religious leaders. Both, Jesus and John the Baptist later had criticized both sects (Mat 3:7; 16:6–12).

Here, the Sanhedrin council convened in order to hear and determine whether the accusations against Paul was true or not based on the law. They heard Paul saying, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.” As they heard this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.

Paul's wit worked. He used the dissenting views about the subject of resurrection to gain sentiment from the Pharisees who believed in resurrection and provoke the Sadducees, who believe not the resurrection. By doing so, he drew attention away from himself. Surely, the message of the resurrection from the dead makes his accusers find hard to handle. (Acts 23:1–6). And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks.

Their conflict was an indication of how the council had posed externally as respectable but rotten at its core. It is sad that religious leaders would focus and defend a particular persuasion, especially if it’s a non-essential. Their pride to defend their turf had diverted them from the most essential – to know Christ.

Let’s be warned about the attitude of pride. As James said, “Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”[Jas 3:13-18]

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