Paul Arrested in the Temple

²⁷ When ^(A)the seven days were almost completed, ^(B)the Jews from Asia, ^(C)seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, ²⁸ crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who ^(D)is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and ^(E)the law and ^(F)this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and ^(G)has defiled ^(H)this holy place.” ²⁹ For they had previously seen ^(I)Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. ³⁰ Then all the city was stirred up, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and ^(J)dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut. ^31 (K)And as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribune of ^(L)the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. ^32 (M)He at once took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. ³³ Then the tribune came up and arrested him and ordered him ^(N)to be bound ^(O)with two chains. He inquired who he was and what he had done. ^34 (P)Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, some another. And as he could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into ^(Q)the barracks. ³⁵ And when he came to the steps, he was actually carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd, ³⁶ for the mob of the people followed, crying out, ^(R)“Away with him!”

Paul Speaks to the People

³⁷ As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek? ³⁸ Are you not ^(S)the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out ^(T)into the wilderness?” ³⁹ Paul replied, ^(U)“I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.” ⁴⁰ And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, ^(V)motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in ^(W)the Hebrew language,^[a] saying:

22 ^(X)“Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.”

² And when they heard that he was addressing them in ^(Y)the Hebrew language,^[b] they became even more quiet. And he said:

^3 (Z)“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated ^(AA)at the feet of ^(AB)Gamaliel^{[c] (AC)}according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, ^(AD)being zealous for God ^(AE)as all of you are this day. ^4 (AF)I persecuted ^(AG)this Way ^(AH)to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, ⁵ as ^(AI)the high priest and ^(AJ)the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to ^(AK)the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.

^6 (AL)“As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. ⁷ And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ ⁸ And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am ^(AM)Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ ^9 (AN)Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand^[d] the voice of the one who was speaking to me. ¹⁰ And I said, ^(AO)‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’ ¹¹ And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.

¹² “And ^(AP)one Ananias, a devout man ^(AQ)according to the law, ^(AR)well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, ^13 (AS)came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And ^(AT)at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. ¹⁴ And he said, ^(AU)‘The God of our fathers ^(AV)appointed you to know his will, ^(AW)to see ^(AX)the Righteous One and ^(AY)to hear a voice from his mouth; ¹⁵ for ^(AZ)you will be a witness for him to everyone of what ^(BA)you have seen and heard. ¹⁶ And now why do you wait? ^(BB)Rise and be baptized and ^(BC)wash away your sins, ^(BD)calling on his name.’

^17 (BE)“When I had returned to Jerusalem and ^(BF)was praying in the temple, I fell into ^(BG)a trance ¹⁸ and saw him saying to me, ^(BH)‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ ¹⁹ And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another ^(BI)I imprisoned and ^(BJ)beat those who believed in you. ²⁰ And when the blood of Stephen ^(BK)your witness was being shed, ^(BL)I myself was standing by and ^(BM)approving and ^(BN)watching over the garments of those who killed him.’ ²¹ And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you ^(BO)far away to the Gentiles.’”