Paul Permitted to Address the Crowd

37 And as he[fn] was about to be brought into the barracks,[fn] 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?”[fn] 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[fn] he permittedhim,[fn] Paul, standing there on the steps, motioned withhis[fn] hand to the people. Andwhen there[fn] was a great silence, he addressedthem[fn] in the Aramaic language, saying,

22 “Men—brothers and fathers—listen to my defense to you now!” 2 And when they[fn] heard that he was addressing them in the Aramaic language,they became even more silent.[fn] 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[fn] 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[fn] was travelingthere[fn] to lead away those who were there also tied up to Jerusalem so that they could be punished.