But we would like to hear from you what you think, for regarding this sect we know ¹  that people ²  everywhere speak against ³  it.”

They know, ¹  because they have known ²  me from time past, ³  if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party ⁴  of our religion, I lived as a Pharisee. ⁵ 

For we have found ¹  this man to be a troublemaker, ²  one who stirs up riots ³  among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader ⁴  of the sect of the Nazarenes. ⁵ 

But I confess this to you, that I worship ¹  the God of our ancestors ²  according to the Way (which they call a sect), believing everything that is according to the law ³  and that is written in the prophets.

Now the high priest rose up, and all those with him (that is, the religious party of the Sadducees ¹ ), ²  and they were filled with jealousy. ³ 

But some from the religious party of the Pharisees ¹  who had believed stood up and said, “It is necessary ²  to circumcise the Gentiles ³  and to order them to observe ⁴  the law of Moses.”

Now a certain man, a Pharisee ¹  named Nicodemus, who was a member of the Jewish ruling council, ² 

But ¹  the Pharisees ²  and their experts in the law ³  complained ⁴  to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” ⁵