Was Paul Divorced?

The issue is not whether or not Paul was required to be married as a Pharisee (that was not a requirement), the issue is whether or not Paul was a member of the Sanhedrin, for which marriage was required.

The closest we get to an answer is in Acts 22:20 where we read that Paul was standing by "consenting" unto the death of Stephen. IF he had used the word cheirontonew (Strongs 5500) "to vote by stretching forth the hand" THEN it may be more reasonable to imply that Paul was a member of the Sanhedrin. HOWEVER, that word is never used of Paul's participation in Stephen's death. THEREFORE, we cannot conclude that Paul was a member of the Sanhedrin on this basis.

Personally, I think he was married at one time and either widowed or divorced for "leaving the Jewish faith" (how they would have seen it). The matter is never clearly decided by Scripture.

Regarding reasons for divorce, Jesus gives the exception of "uncleanness" in Matt 19:6 and Paul allows for desertion or divorce (chwridzw) by an unbeliever in 1Cor 7. It also seems that some in the Corinthian assembly may have been divorced (agamos) for other reasons. Paul seems to grant some latitude for remarriage in those cases as a prevention for sexual sin.

The Deut 24 passages DOES NOT GRANT PERMISSION FOR DIVORCE!!! The Hebrew construction is protasis apodisis (from much study, not because I am a Hebrew scholar) and would be better translated, "IF a man divorces his wife... and IF she goes and marries another... and IF the latter husband dies, or divorces her, THEN SHE CANNOT RETURN TO HER FORMER HUSBAND!!!" The last part is the only command in the passage. Even the Jews of Jesus' day tried to find a command to divorce in the text. Jesus said, "No, it was not a command, it was a concession (Moses suffered), because of the hardness of your hearts."

No more time for now...