Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. It is because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”
6. And when Paul knew. The policy “Stratagema,” stratagem. of Paul, whereof Luke maketh mention, doth seem not to beseem the servant of Christ. For the subtilty which he used was inwrapped in dissimulation, which was not far from a lie.
Paul's wisdom here was to divide his judges, setting Pharisees against Sadducees and turning one part to his defense. Lawful arts and honest policy to escape suffering are no dishonor to a man willing to suffer for Christ; he uses every advantage he has, from his Roman citizenship to his standing as a Pharisee, yet counts them all dung compared to knowing Christ.
AI summary
Commenting on Acts 23:6-11
But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees,.... That is, that one part of the sanhedrim consisted of Sadducees, which was often the case; sometimes the high priest was of this sect, as Ananias probably was, and sometimes the greater part of the sanhedrim were Sadducees, and even sometimes the whole; See Gill on Act 5:17, but this sanhedrim were only part of...