31 And as they were seeking to akill him, a report came up to the 1bcommander of the 2cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion.
32 And he at once 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 commander drew near and laid hold of him and ordered him to be abound with two bchains. And he inquired who he might be and what he had done.
34 And some among the crowd were ashouting one thing, and some another. And since he could not find out the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the bbarracks.
35 And when Paul came to the stairs, it so happened that he was being carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd;
36 For the multitude of the people were following and crying out, aAway with him!
37 And when he was about to be brought into the barracks, Paul said to the commander, Am I allowed to say anything to you? And he said, You know Greek?
38 You are not then the Egyptian who some days ago revolted and led out the four thousand men of the Assassins into the wilderness?
39 But Paul said, I am a aJewish man of bTarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city, and I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.
40 And when he had given him permission, Paul stood on the stairs and amotioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great silence, he addressed them in the bHebrew 1dialect, saying,
CHAPTER 22
1 1Men, abrothers and fathers, hear my 2bdefense which I now make to you.
2 And when they heard that he addressed them in the Hebrew 1dialect, they became more quiet. And he said,
3 I am 1a aJew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia but brought up in this city and trained at the feet of bGamaliel, according to the cstrictness of the law of our fathers, being dzealous efor God, even as you all are today.
4 And I apersecuted this 1Way unto death, binding and delivering to bprisons both men and women,
5 As also the ahigh priest and all the 1assembly of the elders testify for me; from whom I also received bletters to the brothers and went to cDamascus to bring those also who were there bound to Jerusalem that they might be punished.
6 And as I journeyed and adrew near to Damascus about midday, suddenly a great light flashed out of heaven around me;
7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting 1Me?
8 And I answered, Who are You, 1Lord? And He said to me, I am Jesus the aNazarene, whom you persecute.
9 And those who were with me beheld the light, but did not 1hear the voice of the One who was speaking to me.
10 And I said, aWhat shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me, Rise up and go into Damascus, and there it 1will be told to you concerning all the things which have been appointed to you to do.
11 And as I could 1not see because of the glory of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me and came into Damascus.
12 And a certain 1aAnanias, a devout man according to the law, bwell attested to by all the Jews dwelling there,
13 Came to me, and standing by, said to me, Brother Saul, 1areceive your sight! And in that very hour I looked up at him.
14 And he said, The aGod of our fathers has previously bappointed you to know His cwill and to see the drighteous One and to hear the voice from His mouth;