MPV Commentary

Paul's Defense before the Sanhedrin Divides the Rival Factions

1. Paul looked intently at the council with a sense of conscious integrity and unwavering courage, perhaps recognizing some of his early fellow pupils.

He declared, "I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day." This statement referred to the commonwealth of Israel, indicating that he had been an honest and God-fearing member of it up to that point.

2. The high priest ordered him to be struck on the mouth, a method used in the East to silence a speaker. However, for a judge to treat a prisoner this way was utterly unacceptable.

3-4. Paul retorted, "God will strike you," as indeed He did; the high priest was killed by an assassin during the Jewish war. Paul called him a hypocrite, using the term "whited wall" (Matthew 23:27). Although this epithet accurately described the man, it was not suitable for a judge.

5. Paul explained that he didn't know the high priest was in the council, likely due to the confusion and frequent changes in the high priesthood at that time, as well as his own long absence from Jerusalem.

6-9. When Paul noticed the disagreement between the Sadducees and Pharisees, he raised his voice above both parties, declaring, "I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees." He emphasized his Pharisaic heritage by stating that he believed in the hope and resurrection of the dead.

By doing so, Paul effectively engaged the entire Pharisaic section of the council on his side. The doctrine of resurrection was common to both parties, although they would have applied it differently. This move was justified, given the evident lack of impartiality in the trial.

8. The Sadducees argued that there is no resurrection or spirit, while the scribes from the Pharisees' party defended Paul, saying they found no fault in him but were concerned about his claims regarding spirits and angels.

They seemed to be trying to explain away his statements as insignificant, rather than investigating their truth. Their favorable construction of his proceedings was likely due to finding him one of their own party.

10. The chief captain intervened, fearing that Paul would be torn apart by the rival factions. He ordered the soldiers to go down and take Paul by force, indicating that he was not present in person and that the trial had devolved into a chaotic struggle between the parties.