{Strove} (diemachonto). Imperfect middle of diamachomai,
old Attic verb, to fight it out (between, back and forth,
fiercely). Here only in the N.T. It was a lively scrap and Luke
pictures it as going on. The Pharisees definitely take Paul's
side. {And what if a spirit hath spoken to him or an angel?} (ei
de pneuma elal(8873)en aut(9369) (8820)aggelos?). This is aposiopesis, not
uncommon in the N.T., as in  Lu 13:9  Joh 6:62  (Robertson,
_Grammar_, p. 1203). See one also in  Ex 32:32 .