Acts 21:23–40

²³Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have obligated themselves with a vow. ²⁴Take these men, purify yourself along with them, and pay for them to get their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that what they were told about you amounts to nothing, but that you yourself are also careful about observing the law. ^v25With regard to the Gentiles who have believed, we have written a letter containing our decision that ^wthey should keep themselves from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality.”

The Riot in the Temple Complex

²⁶Then the next day, Paul took the men, having purified himself along with them, and entered the temple, announcing the completion of the purification days when the offering for each of them would be made. ^x27As the seven days were about to end, the Jews from Asia saw him in the temple complex, stirred up the whole crowd, and seized him, ^y28shouting, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people, our law, and this place. What’s more, he also brought Greeks into the temple and has profaned this holy place.” ^z29For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple complex. ^ab

³⁰The whole city was stirred up, and the people rushed together. They seized Paul, dragged him out of the temple complex, and at once the gates were shut. ^c31As they were trying to kill him, word went up to the commander of the regiment that all Jerusalem was in chaos. ³²Taking along soldiers and centurions, he immediately ran down to them. Seeing the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. ³³Then the commander came up, took him into custody, and ordered him to be bound with two chains. ^dHe asked who he was and what he had done. ³⁴Some in the mob were shouting one thing and some another. Since he was not able to get reliable information because of the uproar, he ordered him to be taken into the barracks. ^e35When Paul got to the steps, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the mob’s violence, ³⁶for the mass of people followed, yelling, “Take him away!” ^f

Paul’s Defense before the Jerusalem Mob

³⁷As he was about to be brought into the barracks, Paul said to the commander, “Am I allowed to say something to you?”

He replied, “Do you know Greek? ³⁸Aren’t you the Egyptian who raised a rebellion some time ago and led 4,000 Assassins ^ghinto the wilderness?” ⁱ

³⁹Paul said, “I am a Jewish man from Tarsus of Cilicia, ^ja citizen of an important city. ^kNow I ask you, let me speak to the people.”

⁴⁰After he had given permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned with his hand to the people. When there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language: ^l