And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.
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
And when he had so said,.... He stopped and made a pause: and there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; about the things which he had spoken of, particularly the resurrection of the dead; and this was what the apostle intended, so that his end was answered by the speech he made: and the multitude was divided; that is, the members of...
Verse 7. A dissension. A dispute or difference. And the multitude. The council. Comp. . The Pharisees embraced, as he desired and expected, his side of the question, and became his advocates, in opposition to the Saducees, who were arrayed against him.