31. While they were trying to kill him, news came up to the commander of the battalion of soldiers that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.
32. He at once took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them. When they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.
33. Then the commander came and arrested him, and ordered that he be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done.
34. Some in the crowd shouted one thing, some another. As he could not learn the truth because of the uproar, he commanded that he be brought into the barracks.
35. When he came onto the stairs, he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the people.
36. For the mob of people followed, crying out, “Away with him!”
37. As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the commander, “May I speak to you?”He replied, “Do you know how to speak Greek?
38. Are you not the Egyptian who in past days caused an uproar and led the four thousand men of the Sicarii out into the wilderness?”
39. Paul said, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus of Cilicia, a citizen of no common city. I beg of you, permit me to speak to the people.”
40. When he had given him permission, Paul stood on the stairs and motioned with his hand to the people. When there was great silence, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying,