23. As they shouted and threw off their garments and threw dust into the air,
24. the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks and examined with scourging, so that he might learn what crime they were alleging against him.
25. As they stretched him forward with straps, Paul said to the centurion standing by, “Is it legal for you to flog an uncondemned Roman citizen?”
26. On hearing this, the centurion reported to the commander, saying, “What are you doing? This man is a Roman citizen.”
27. The commander came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?”He said, “Yes.”
28. The commander answered, “I bought my citizenship for a large sum.”So Paul said, “But I was born a citizen.”
29. Therefore those who were about to examine Paul immediately backed away from him. And the commander feared, knowing that he was a Roman citizen and because he had bound him.
30. On the next day, desiring to know exactly why he was accused by the Jews, he released him and ordered the chief priests and all the Sanhedrin to assemble, and he brought Paul down to stand before them.