17. “And it came to be, when I returned to Yerushalayim, and while I was praying in the Set-apart Place, I came to be in a trance,
18. and I saw Him saying to me, ‘Hurry and get out of Yerushalayim, speedily, because they shall not accept your witness concerning Me.’
19. “And I said, ‘Master, they know that in every congregation I was imprisoning and beating those who believe on You.
20. ‘And when the blood of Your witness Stephanos was shed, I also was standing by giving my approval to his death, and keeping the garments of those who were killing him.’
21. “And He said to me, ‘Go, because I shall send you far from here to the gentiles.’ ”
22. And they were listening to him until this word, and then they lifted up their voice, saying, “Away with such a one from the earth, for it is not fit that he should live!”
23. As they were shouting and tearing their garments, and throwing dust into the air,
24. the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, and said that he should be examined by flogging, in order to find out why they were shouting so against him.
25. And as they were stretching him out with straps, Sha’ul said to the captain who was standing by, “Is it permitted for you to whip a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?”
26. And when the captain heard, he went and reported to the commander, saying, “Watch what you are about to do, for this man is a Roman.”
27. And having come, the commander said to him, “Say to me, are you a Roman?” And he said, “Yes.”