26 Then Paul took along the men on the next day, and* after he* had purified himself together with them, he entered into the temple courts,* announcing the completion of the days of purification until ⌊the time⌋k the offering would be presented on behalf of each one of them.

Paul Arrested in the Temple Courts

27 But when the seven days were about to be completed, the Jews from Asial who had seen him in the temple courts* stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, 28 shouting, “Israelite men, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place! And furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple, and has defiled this holy place!” 29 (For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, whom they thought that Paul had brought into the temple.) 30 And the whole city was stirred up, and the people came running together, and they seized Paul and* dragged him outside of the temple courts,* and immediately the doors were shut.

31 And as they* were seeking to kill him, a report came up to the military tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. 32 ⌊He⌋m immediately took along soldiers and centurions and* ran down to them. And when* they saw the military tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 Then the military tribune came up and* arrested him and ordered him* to be bound with two chains, and inquired who he was and what it was that he had done. 34 But some in the crowd were shouting one thing and others another, and because* he was not able to find out the truth on account of the commotion, he gave orders to bring him into the barracks.n 35 And when he came to the steps, it happened that he had to be carried by the soldiers on account of the violence of the crowd, 36 for the crowd of people was following them,* shouting, “Away with him!”

Paul Permitted to Address the Crowd

37 And as he* was about to be brought into the barracks,o Paul said to the military tribune, “Is it permitted for me to say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek? 38 Then you are not the Egyptian who before these days raised a revolt and led out into the wilderness the four thousand men of the Assassins?”p 39 But Paul said, “I am a Jewish man from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no unimportant city. Now I ask you, allow me to speak to the people.” 40 So when* he permitted him,* Paul, standing there on the steps, motioned with his* hand to the people. And when there* was a great silence, he addressed them* in the Aramaic language, saying,

22 “Men—brothers and fathers—listen to my defense to you now!” 2 And when they* heard that he was addressing them in the Aramaic language, ⌊they became even more silent⌋.a And he said, 3 “I am a Jewish man born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, educated according to the exactness of the law received from our fathers, being zealous for God, just as all of you are today. 4 ⌊I⌋b persecuted this Way to the death, tying up and delivering to prison both men and women, 5 as indeed the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify about me, from whom also I received letters to the brothers in Damascus, and* was traveling there* to lead away those who were there also tied up to Jerusalem so that they could be punished.

Paul Tells of His Conversion on the Damascus Road

6 “And it happened that as* I was traveling and approaching Damascus around noon, suddenly a very bright light from heaven flashed around me, 7 and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 8 And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene whom you are persecuting.’ 9 (Now those who were with me saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me.) 10 So I said, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Get up and* proceed to Damascus, and there it will be told to you about all the things that have been appointed for you to do.’ 11 And as I could not see as a result of the brightness of that light, I arrived in Damascus led by the hand of those who were with me. 12 And a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who live there, 13 came to me and stood by me* and* said to me, ‘Brother Saul, regain your sight!’ And at that same time I looked up at him and saw him.* 14 And he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know his will, and to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth, 15 because you will be a witness for himc to all people of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why are you delaying? Get up, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name!’

17 “And it happened that when* I returned to Jerusalem and I was praying in the temple courts,* I was in a trance, 18 and saw him saying to me, ‘Hurry and depart ⌊quickly⌋d from Jerusalem, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ 19 And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that from synagogue to synagogue I was imprisoning and beating those who believed in you. 20 And when the blood of your witness Stephen was being shed, I myself also was standing near and was approving, and was guarding the cloaks of those who were killing him.’ 21 And he said to me, ‘Go, because I will send you far away to the Gentiles!’ ”