30
All the people in Jerusalem became upset. Together they ran, took Paul, and dragged him out of the Temple. The Temple doors were closed immediately.
31
While they were trying to kill Paul, the commander of the Roman army in Jerusalem learned that there was trouble in the whole city.
32
Immediately he took some officers and soldiers and ran to the place where the crowd was gathered. When the people saw them, they stopped beating Paul.
33
The commander went to Paul and arrested him. He told his soldiers to tie Paul with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done wrong.
34
Some in the crowd were yelling one thing, and some were yelling another. Because of all this confusion and shouting, the commander could not learn what had happened. So he ordered the soldiers to take Paul to the army building.
35
When Paul came to the steps, the soldiers had to carry him because the people were ready to hurt him.
36
The whole mob was following them, shouting, "Kill him!"
37
As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the army building, he spoke to the commander, "May I say something to you?" The commander said, "Do you speak Greek?
38
I thought you were the Egyptian who started some trouble against the government not long ago and led four thousand killers out to the desert."
39
Paul said, "No, I am a Jew from Tarsus in the country of Cilicia. I am a citizen of that important city. Please, let me speak to the people."
40
The commander gave permission, so Paul stood on the steps and waved his hand to quiet the people. When there was silence, he spoke to them in the Jewish language.