Read Part One HERE
A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS
PART XXIII - II
As, I, Paul looked around the room where the Sanhedrin had gathered here in Jerusalem.... I realised that some of them were Pharisees and others were Sadducees.... I know that they have different viewpoints on the afterlife.... So I decided to bring that up... I believe in the Resurrection of the dead... And so do the Pharisees.... As soon as I brought up the subject of the Resurrection I noticed a change in the atmosphere.... Things became more tense.... In fact, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees... The Pharisees began to argue in my favour.... Unfortunately, things became so heated that the Commander became afraid for my life... So he had me removed from the room.... This, despite the fact, that he still did not know what I was being accused of."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn about the dispute between the Pharisees and the Sadducees....
ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS
PART XXIII - II
Then Paul began to focus on the division within the Sanhedrin as you can know from Acts 23:6
Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees, and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, "My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Phrisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the Resurrection of the dead."
Paul was, hereby, taking the spotlight off himself and, at the same time, used that opportunity to get support from the Pharisees because he had been one of them.
His method was effective in that a dispute broke out as soon as he finished his sentence as you can read in Acts 23:7
When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the Assembly was divided. (The Sadducees say that there is no Resurrection and that there are neither angels not spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all).
Paul knew how to bring a division because he knew the viewpoint of both and could therefore create a division within a moment. And he was not afraid to do so, if it served his purpose, as it did here in this situation.
Not surprisingly, he was then able to win the Pharisees over to his side as you can read in Acts 23:9
There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisess, stood up and argued vigorously. "We find nothing wrong with this man," they said. "What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?"
Paul did not have to say anything more, for his brothets, the Pharisees, were completely willing to support him. However, that did not go down well with the Sadducees, who continued to dispute with the Pharisees as you can read in Acts 23:10
The dispute became so violent that the Commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them.
The dispute got to the point where the Commander had no choice but to move Paul to safety, despite the fact that he was still not clear as to why Paul had caused these people to react so violently towards him.
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