25
As they were stretching him out and tying him down with straps, Paul said to the centurion standing there, "Can you legally whip a Roman citizen who hasn't been found guilty in court?"
26
When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. He asked, "What are you about to do? This man is a Roman citizen!"
27
The commander went to Paul and demanded, "Tell me! Are you a Roman citizen?" He said, "Yes."
28
The commander replied, "It cost me a lot of money to buy my citizenship." Paul said, "I'm a citizen by birth."
29
At once those who were about to examine him stepped away. The commander was alarmed when he realized he had bound a Roman citizen.
Paul appears before the Jewish council
30 The commander still wanted to know the truth about why Paul was being accused by the Jews. Therefore, the next day he ordered the chief priests and the entire Jerusalem Council to assemble. Then he took Paul out of prison and had him stand before them.