31. While they were trying to kill him, a report was sent up to the commanding officer of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion.
32. He immediately took soldiers and centurions and ran down to the crowd. When they saw the commanding officer and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.
33. Then the commanding officer came up and arrested him and ordered him to be tied up with two chains; he then asked who he was and what he had done.
34. But some in the crowd shouted one thing, and others something else, and when the commanding officer was unable to find out the truth because of the disturbance, he ordered Paul to be brought into the barracks.
35. When he came to the steps, Paul had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob,
36. for a crowd of people followed them, screaming, “Away with him!”
37. As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the commanding officer, “May I say something to you?” The officer replied, “Do you know Greek?
38. Then you’re not that Egyptian who started a rebellion and led the four thousand men of the ‘Assassins’ into the wilderness some time ago?”
39. Paul answered, “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of an important city. Please allow me to speak to the people.”
40. When the commanding officer had given him permission, Paul stood on the steps and gestured to the people with his hand. When they had become silent, he addressed them in Aramaic,