Paragraph 23:7–9

23:7a–b

a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as dispute here probably implies anger and shouting while they argued. Other ways to translate this clause are:

the Pharisees and the Sadducees got into a big argument (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
the Pharisees and the Sadducees began shouting and arguing with each other

23:7c

the assembly was divided: The word divided means that some of the members of the Sanhedrin had one opinion and others members had another, very different opinion. Other ways to translate this clause are:

the council members were now divided (in opinion)
-or-
the men who had gathered now separated ⌊by their beliefs⌋

This word probably does not indicate that the Sadducees and Pharisees moved from where they were and gathered into two groups on different sides of the room.

the assembly: Here the word assembly refers to the Sanhedrin. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

the meeting (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
the men in the meeting (God’s Word)
-or-
those who had assembled there

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