²² Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes ^(A)and commanded them to be beaten with rods.

² But ^[a]even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at ^(A)Philippi, as you know, we were ^(B)bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict.

²³ Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: ^(A)in labors more abundant, ^(B)in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, ^(C)in deaths often. ²⁴ From the Jews five times I received ^(D)forty ^(E)stripes minus one. ²⁵ Three times I was ^(F)beaten with rods; ^(G)once I was stoned; three times I ^(H)was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep;

^5 (A)in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings;

^24 (A)who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, ^(B)that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—^(C)by whose ^[a]stripes you were healed.

³⁶ Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and ^(A)of chains and imprisonment.

Paul’s Roman Citizenship

²² And they listened to him until this word, and then they raised their voices and said, ^(A)“Away with such a fellow from the earth, for ^(B)he is not fit to live!” ²³ Then, as they cried out and ^[a]tore off their clothes and threw dust into the air, ²⁴ the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, and said that he should be examined under scourging, so that he might know why they shouted so against him. ²⁵ And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, ^(C)“Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?”

²⁶ When the centurion heard that, he went and told the commander, saying, “Take care what you do, for this man is a Roman.”

³⁰ And ^(A)all the city was disturbed; and the people ran together, seized Paul, and dragged him out of the temple; and immediately the doors were shut. ³¹ Now as they were ^(B)seeking to kill him, news came to the commander of the ^[a]garrison that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.

²⁸ Now when they heard this, they were full of wrath and cried out, saying, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!” ²⁹ So the whole city was filled with confusion, and rushed into the theater with one accord, having seized ^(A)Gaius and ^(B)Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul’s travel companions. ³⁰ And when Paul wanted to go in to the people, the disciples would not allow him. ³¹ Then some of the ^[a]officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent to him pleading that he would not venture into the theater. ³² Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and most of them did not know why they had come together. ³³ And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And ^(C)Alexander ^(D)motioned with his hand, and wanted to make his defense to the people. ³⁴ But when they found out that he was a Jew, all with one voice cried out for about two hours, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”

³⁵ And when the city clerk had quieted the crowd, he said: “Men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple guardian of the great goddess ^[b]Diana, and of the image which fell down from ^[c]Zeus? ³⁶ Therefore, since these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rashly. ³⁷ For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of ^[d]your goddess. ³⁸ Therefore, if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a ^[e]case against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. ³⁹ But if you have any other inquiry to make, it shall be determined in the lawful assembly. ⁴⁰ For we are in danger of being ^[f]called in question for today’s uproar, there being no reason which we may give to account for this disorderly gathering.” ⁴¹ And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.