1. Paul stared at the council and said, "Brothers, I have lived my life with an altogether clear conscience right up to this very day."
2. The high priest Ananias ordered those standing beside Paul to strike him in the mouth.
3. Then Paul said to him, "God is about to strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit and judge me according to the Law, yet disobey the Law by ordering that I be struck."
4. Those standing near him asked, "You dare to insult God’s high priest?"
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!"