21 37 Just before Paul was taken into the barracks he said to the commandant, 'May I have a word with you?' The commandant said, 'So you speak Greek, do you? 21 38 Then you are not the Egyptian who started a revolt some time ago and led a force of four thousand terrorists out into the wilds?' 21 39 Paul replied, 'I am a Jew, a Tarsian from Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city. I ask your permission to speak to the people.' 21 40 When permission had been given, Paul stood on the steps and with a gesture called for the attention of the people. As soon as quiet was restored, he addressed them in the Jewish language:
22 1 'Brothers and fathers, give me a hearing while I make my defence before you.'
22 2 When they heard him speaking to them in their own language, they listened the more quietly.
22 3 'I am a true-born Jew,' he said, 'a native of Tarsus in Cilicia. I was brought up in this city, and as a pupil of Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in every point of our ancestral law. I have always been ardent in God's service, as you all are today. 22 4 And so I began to persecute this movement to the death, arresting its followers, men and women alike, and putting them in chains. 22 5 For this I have as witnesses the High Priest and the whole Council of Elders. I was given letters from them to our fellow-Jews at Damascus, and had started out to bring the Christians there to Jerusalem as prisoners for punishment; and this is what happened.