Paul is allowed to speak to the Jerusalem mob that has been stirred up by Jews from Asia. He spoke to them in Aramaic, they quieted and he told his story of salvation.
29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.30 Then all the city was stirred up, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut.31 And as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion.32 He at once took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.33 Then the tribune came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. He inquired who he was and what he had done.34 Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, some another. And as he could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks.35 And when he came to the steps, he was actually carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd,36 for the mob of the people followed, crying out, “Away with him!”37 As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek?38 Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?”39 Paul replied, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.”40 And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying:
Acts 22
1 “Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.”2 And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said:3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day.
