Acts 21:30   (Read all of Acts 21)

The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul, they dragged him from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut.

Acts 21:32   (Read all of Acts 21)

He at once took some officers and soldiers and ran down to the crowd. When the rioters saw the commander and his soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.

Acts 21:34   (Read all of Acts 21)

Some in the crowd shouted one thing and some another, and since the commander could not get at the truth because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks.

Acts 21:35   (Read all of Acts 21)

When Paul reached the steps, the violence of the mob was so great he had to be carried by the soldiers.

Acts 21:37   (Read all of Acts 21)

As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, "May I say something to you?" "Do you speak Greek?" he replied.

Acts 21:39   (Read all of Acts 21)

Paul answered, "I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people."

Acts 21:40   (Read all of Acts 21)

After receiving the commander's permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. When they were all silent, he said to them in Aramaic :

Acts 22:2   (Read all of Acts 22)

When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet. Then Paul said:

Acts 22:22   (Read all of Acts 22)

The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, "Rid the earth of him! He's not fit to live!"

Acts 22:24   (Read all of Acts 22)

the commander ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks. He directed that he be flogged and interrogated in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this.

Acts 22:25   (Read all of Acts 22)

As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, "Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn't even been found guilty?"

Acts 22:27   (Read all of Acts 22)

The commander went to Paul and asked, "Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?" "Yes, I am," he answered.

Acts 22:28   (Read all of Acts 22)

Then the commander said, "I had to pay a lot of money for my citizenship." "But I was born a citizen," Paul replied.

Acts 22:29   (Read all of Acts 22)

Those who were about to interrogate him withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen, in chains.

Acts 22:30   (Read all of Acts 22)

The commander wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews. So the next day he released him and ordered the chief priests and all the members of the Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul and had him stand before them.

Acts 23:1   (Read all of Acts 23)

Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, "My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day."

Acts 23:2   (Read all of Acts 23)

At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.

Acts 23:3   (Read all of Acts 23)

Then Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!"

Acts 23:4   (Read all of Acts 23)

Those who were standing near Paul said, "How dare you insult God's high priest!"

Acts 23:5   (Read all of Acts 23)

Paul replied, "Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: 'Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.' "

Acts 23:6   (Read all of Acts 23)

Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, "My brothers, I am a Pharisee, descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead."

Acts 23:10   (Read all of Acts 23)

The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.

Acts 23:11   (Read all of Acts 23)

The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, "Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome."

Acts 23:12   (Read all of Acts 23)

The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.