19
“‘But Lord,’ I argued, ‘they certainly know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you.
20
And I was in complete agreement when your witness Stephen was killed. I stood by and kept the coats they took off when they stoned him.’
21
“But the Lord said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles!’ ”
22
The crowd listened until Paul said that word. Then they all began to shout, “Away with such a fellow! He isn’t fit to live!”
23
They yelled, threw off their coats, and tossed handfuls of dust into the air.
24
The commander brought Paul inside and ordered him lashed with whips to make him confess his crime. He wanted to find out why the crowd had become so furious.
25
When they tied Paul down to lash him, Paul said to the officer standing there, “Is it legal for you to whip a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been tried?”
26
When the officer heard this, he went to the commander and asked, “What are you doing? This man is a Roman citizen!”
27
So the commander went over and asked Paul, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes, I certainly am,” Paul replied.
28
“I am, too,” the commander muttered, “and it cost me plenty!” Paul answered, “But I am a citizen by birth!”
29
The soldiers who were about to interrogate Paul quickly withdrew when they heard he was a Roman citizen, and the commander was frightened because he had ordered him bound and whipped.