²⁹ (For they had ^[a]previously seen ^(A)Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)

³⁰ And ^(B)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 ^(C)seeking to kill him, news came to the commander of the ^[b]garrison that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. ^32 (D)He immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them. And when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. ³³ Then the ^(E)commander came near and took him, and ^(F)commanded him to be bound with two chains; and he asked who he was and what he had done. ³⁴ And some among the multitude cried one thing and some another.

So when he could not ascertain the truth because of the tumult, he commanded him to be taken into the barracks. ³⁵ When he reached the stairs, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob. ³⁶ For the multitude of the people followed after, crying out, ^(G)“Away with him!”

Addressing the Jerusalem Mob^(H)

³⁷ Then as Paul was about to be led into the barracks, he said to the commander, “May I speak to you?”

He replied, “Can you speak Greek? ^38 (I)Are you not the Egyptian who some time ago stirred up a rebellion and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?”

³⁹ But Paul said, ^(J)“I am a Jew from Tarsus, in Cilicia, a citizen of no ^[c]mean city; and I implore you, permit me to speak to the people.”

⁴⁰ So when he had given him permission, Paul stood on the stairs and ^(K)motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the ^(L)Hebrew language, saying,

Paul’s Defense at Jerusalem

22 “Brethren^(M) and fathers, hear my defense before you now.” ² And when they heard that he spoke to them in the ^(N)Hebrew language, they kept all the more silent.

Then he said: ^3 (O)“I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city ^(P)at the feet of ^(Q)Gamaliel, taught ^(R)according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and ^(S)was zealous toward God ^(T)as you all are today. ^4 (U)I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women, ⁵ as also the high priest bears me witness, and ^(V)all the council of the elders, ^(W)from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus ^(X)to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished.

⁶ “Now ^(Y)it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven 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 So I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’

⁹ “And ^(Z)those who were with me indeed saw the light ^[d]and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me. ¹⁰ So I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.’ ¹¹ And since I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.

¹² “Then ^(AA)a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, ^(AB)having a good testimony with all the ^(AC)Jews who dwelt there, ¹³ came to me; and he stood and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that same hour I looked up at him. ¹⁴ Then he said, ^(AD)‘The God of our fathers ^(AE)has chosen you that you should ^(AF)know His will, and ^(AG)see the Just One, ^(AH)and hear the voice of His mouth. ^15 (AI)For you will be His witness to all men of ^(AJ)what you have seen and heard. ¹⁶ And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, ^(AK)and wash away your sins, ^(AL)calling on the name of the Lord.’

¹⁷ “Now ^(AM)it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance ¹⁸ and ^(AN)saw Him saying to me, ^(AO)‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.’ ¹⁹ So I said, ‘Lord, ^(AP)they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and ^(AQ)beat those who believe on You. ^20 (AR)And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by ^(AS)consenting ^[e]to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’ ²¹ Then He said to me, ‘Depart, ^(AT)for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.’ ”

Paul’s Roman Citizenship

²² And they listened to him until this word, and then they raised their voices and said, ^(AU)“Away with such a fellow from the earth, for ^(AV)he is not fit to live!”

¹² Yes, and ^(A)all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

¹⁵ But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a ^[a]busybody in other people’s matters. ¹⁶ Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this ^[b]matter.

Qualities Needed in Trials

^19 [a]So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, ^(A)slow to speak, ^(B)slow to wrath; ²⁰ for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.