Acts 23:9
And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees’ part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God. And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees’ part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.
The scribes belonging to the Pharisees' party stood up for Paul and contended that they found no evil or wrongdoing in him. They warned that if a spirit or an angel had spoken to him, to oppose him would be to fight against God. Their openness to a spirit or an angel having spoken to him reflected their acceptance of resurrection, angels, and spirits, in contrast to the Sadducees who denied them.
Their warning not to fight against God echoed Gamaliel's earlier warning. Their defense of Paul was also driven by rivalry with the Sadducees. The resulting dispute between Pharisees and Sadducees divided the council and weakened the united opposition against Paul.
Those opposing Paul sought to silence his defense of the truth rather than answer it. They worked by subtlety instead of meeting his defense openly. In the same spirit of opposition they moved to suppress words they could not refute.