Chapter 22, verse 20 - Chapter 23, verse 1
20
When the blood of Stephen, your witness, was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting to his death, and guarding the cloaks of those who killed him.’
21
“He said to me, ‘Depart, for I will send you out far from here to the Gentiles.’”
22
They listened to him until he said that
23
As they cried out, and threw off their cloaks, and threw dust into the air,
24
the commanding officer commanded him to be brought into the barracks, ordering him to be examined by scourging, that he might know for what crime they shouted against him like that.
25
When they had tied him up with thongs, Paul asked the centurion who stood by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and not found guilty?”
26
When the centurion heard it, he went to the commanding officer and told him, “Watch what you are about to do, for this man is a Roman!”
27
The commanding officer came and asked him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?”. He said, “Yes.”
28
The commanding officer answered, “I bought my citizenship for a great price.” Paul said, “But I was born a Roman.”
29
Immediately those who were about to examine him departed from him, and the commanding officer also was afraid when he realized that he was a Roman, because he had bound him.
30
But on the next day, desiring to know the truth about why he was accused by the Jews, he freed him from the bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all the council to come together, and brought Paul down and set him before them.
Chapter 23
1
Paul, looking steadfastly at the council, said, “Brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day.”
