Acts 21:27-40

27When 1the seven days were almost over, 2the Jews from 34Asia, upon seeing him in the temple, began to stir up all the crowd and laid hands on him, 28crying out, “Men of Israel, come to our aid! 5This is the man who preaches to all men everywhere against our people and the Law and this place; and besides he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has 6defiled this holy place.” 29For they had previously seen 7Trophimus the 8Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. 30Then all the city was provoked, and 9the people rushed together, and taking hold of Paul they 10dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut. 31While they were seeking to kill him, a report came up to the 11commander of the 12Roman 13cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. 32At once he 14took along some soldiers and centurions and ran down to them; and when they saw the 15commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33Then the 16commander came up and took hold of him, and ordered him to be 17bound with 18two chains; and he began asking who he was and what he had done. 34But among the crowd 19some were shouting one thing and some another, and when he could not find out the 20facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into 21the barracks. 35When he got to 22the stairs, he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the 23mob; 36for the multitude of the people kept following them, shouting, “24Away with him!”

37As Paul was about to be brought into 25the barracks, he said to the 26commander, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek? 38Then you are not 27the Egyptian who some 28time ago stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out 29into the wilderness?” 39But Paul said, “30I am a Jew of Tarsus in 31Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city; and I beg you, allow me to speak to the people.” 40When he had given him permission, Paul, standing on 32the stairs, 33motioned to the people with his hand; and when there 34was a great hush, he spoke to them in the 3536Hebrew dialect, saying,