THE CAPTAIN OF THE NEW FAITH IN THE HANDS OF HIS FOES
I
THE JEWS STIR UP A RIOT.
Paul, in Great Peril, is Saved by a Roman Officer.
(When Paul reached Jerusalem he worshiped, as was his custom, in the temple. But he had many enemies who said that he was a traitor to the Jewish faith because he was friendly with people who were not Jews.)
Paul's enemies stirred up all the multitude, and laid hands on him, crying out, "Men of Israel, help: This is the man, who teacheth all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place: and moreover he brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath defiled this holy place."
For they had before seen with him in the city Trophimus the Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple. And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they laid hold on Paul, and dragged him out of the temple: and straightway the doors were shut. And as they were seeking to kill him, tidings came up to the chief captain of the garrison, that all Jerusalem was in confusion. And forthwith he took soldiers and centurions, and ran down upon them: and they, when [{434}] they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, left off beating Paul. Then the chief captain came near, and laid hold on Paul, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and inquired who he was, and what he had done. And some shouted one thing, some another, among the crowd: and when the captain could not know the truth for the uproar, he commanded him to be brought into the castle. And when he came upon the stairs, he was borne by the soldiers on account of the violence of the crowd; for the multitude of the people followed after, crying out, "Away with him."
And as Paul was about to be brought into the castle, he saith unto the chief captain, "May I say something unto thee?"
And he said, "Dost thou know Greek? Art thou not then the Egyptian, which before these days stirred up to sedition and led out into the wilderness the four thousand men of the Assassins?"
But Paul said, "I am a Jew, of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and I beseech thee, give me leave to speak unto the people."
II
ON THE CASTLE STAIRS
Paul Defends Himself Before the People.