29
(They had previously seen Trophimus from Ephesus in the city with him and assumed that Sha'ul had brought him into the Temple.)
30
The whole city was aroused, and people came running from all over. They seized Sha'ul and dragged him out of the Temple, and at once the gates were shut.
31
But while they were attempting to kill him, word reached the commander of the Roman battalion that all Yerushalayim was in turmoil.
32
Immediately he took officers and soldiers and charged down upon them. As soon as they saw the commander, they quit beating Sha'ul.
33
Then the commander came up, arrested him and ordered him to be tied up with two chains. He asked who he was and what he had done.
34
Everyone in the crowd shouted something different; so, since he couldn't find out what had happened because of the uproar, he ordered him brought to the barracks.
35
When Sha'ul got to the steps, he actually had to be carried by the soldiers, because the mob was so wild -
36
the crowd kept following and screaming, "Kill him!"
37
As Sha'ul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the commander, "Is it all right if I say something to you?" The commander said, "You know Greek!
38
Say, aren't you that Egyptian who tried to start a revolution a while back, and led four thousand armed terrorists out into the desert?"
39
Sha'ul said, "I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of an important city; and I ask your permission to let me speak to the people."