This is the man； that teacheth all men everywhere against the people； and
the law； and this place。〃 And as the people responded to the call for help；
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another accusation was added〃and further brought Greeks also into the
temple； and hath polluted this holy place。〃
By the Jewish law it was a crime punishable with death for an uncircumcised
person to enter the inner courts of the sacred edifice。 Paul had been seen
in the city in company with Trophimus； an Ephesian； and it was conjectured
that he had brought him into the temple。 This he had not done； and being
himself a Jew； his act in entering the temple was no violation of the law。
But though the charge was wholly false； it served to arouse the popular
prejudice。 As the cry was taken up and borne through the temple courts； the
throngs gathered there were thrown into wild excitement。 The news quickly
spread through Jerusalem； 〃and all the city was moved； and the people ran
together。〃
That an apostate from Israel should presume to profane the temple at the
very time when thousands had come there from all parts of the world to
worship； excited the fiercest passions of the mob。 〃They took Paul； and drew
him out of the temple： and forthwith the doors were shut。〃
〃As they went about to kill him； tidings came unto the chief captain of the
band； that all Jerusalem was in an uproar。〃 Claudius Lysias well knew the
turbulent elements with which he had to deal； and he 〃immediately took
soldiers and centurions； and ran down unto them： and when they saw the chief
captain and the soldiers； they left beating of Paul。〃 Ignorant of the cause
of the tumult； but seeing that the rage of the multitude was directed
against Paul； the Roman captain concluded that he must be a certain Egyptian
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rebel of whom he had heard； who had thus far escaped capture。 He therefore
〃took him； and commanded him to be bound with two chains； and demanded who
he was； and what he had done。〃 At once many voices were raised in loud and
angry accusation； 〃some cried one thing； some another； among the multitude：
and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult； he commanded him to
be carried into the castle。 And when he came upon the stairs； so it was；
that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people。 For the
multitude of the people followed after； crying； Away with him。〃
In the midst of the tumult the apostle was calm and self…possessed。 His mind
was stayed upon God； and he knew that angels of heaven were about him。 He
felt unwilling to leave the temple without making an effort to set the truth
before his countrymen。 As he was about to be led into the castle he said to
the chief captain； 〃May I speak unto thee？〃 Lysias responded； 〃Canst thou
speak Greek？ Art not thou that Egyptian； which before these days madest an
uproar； and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were
murderers？〃 In reply Paul said； 〃I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus； a city
in Cilicia； a citizen of no mean city： and； I beseech thee； suffer me to
speak unto the people。〃
The request was granted； and 〃Paul stood on the stairs； and beckoned with
the hand unto the people。〃 The gesture attracted their attention； while his
bearing commanded respect。 〃And when there was made a great silence； he
spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue； saying； Men； brethren； and
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fathers； hear ye my defense which I make now unto you。〃 At the sound of the
familiar Hebrew words； 〃they kept the more silence；〃 and in the universal
hush he continued：
〃I am verily a man which am a Jew； born in Tarsus； a city in Cilicia； yet
brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel； and taught according to the
perfect manner of the law of the fathers； and was zealous toward God； as ye
all are this day。〃 None could deny the apostle's statements； as the facts
that he referred to were well known to many who were still living in
Jerusalem。 He then spoke of his former zeal in persecuting the disciples of
Christ； even unto death； and he narrated the circumstances of his
conversion； telling his hearers how his own proud heart had been led to bow
to the crucified Nazarene。 Had he attempted to enter into argument with his
opponents； they would have stubbornly refused to listen to his words； but
the relation of his experience was attended with a convincing power that for
the time seemed to soften and subdue their hearts。
He then endeavored to show that his work among the Gentiles had not been
entered upon from choice。 He had desired to labor for his own nation； but in
that very temple the voice of God had spoken to him in holy vision；
directing his course 〃far hence upon the Gentiles。〃
Hitherto the people had listened with close attention； but when Paul reached
the point in his history where he was appointed Christ's ambassador to the
Gentiles； their fury broke forth anew。 Accustomed to look upon themselves as
the only people favored by God； they were unwilling to
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permit the despised Gentiles to share the privileges which had hitherto been
regarded as exclusively their own。 Lifting their voices above the voice of
the speaker； they cried； 〃Away with such a fellow from the earth： for it is
not fit that he should live。〃
〃As they cried out； and cast off their clothes； and threw dust into the air；
the chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle； and bade that
he should be examined by scourging； that he might know wherefore they cried
so against him。
〃And as they bound him with thongs； Paul said unto the centurion that stood
by； Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman； and uncondemned？
When the centurion heard that； he went and told the chief captain； saying；
Take heed what thou doest： for this man is a Roman。 Then the chief captain
came； and said unto him； Tell me； art thou a Roman？ He said； Yea。 And the
chief captain answered； With a great sum obtained I this freedom。 And Paul
said； But I was freeborn。 Then straightway they departed from him which
should have examined him： and the chief captain also was afraid； after he
knew that he was a Roman； and because he had bound him。
〃On the morrow； because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was
accused of the Jews； he loosed him from his bands； and commanded the chief
priests and all their council to appear； and brought Paul down； and set him
before them。〃
The apostle was now to be tried by the same tribunal of which he himself had
been a member before his conversion。
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As he stood before the Jewish rulers； his bearing was calm； and his
countenance revealed the peace of Christ。 〃Earnestly beholding the council；〃
he said； 〃Men and brethren； I have lived in all good conscience before God
until this day。〃 Upon hearing these words； their hatred was kindled afresh；
〃and the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him
on the mouth。〃 At this inhuman command； Paul exclaimed； 〃God shall smite
thee； thou whited wall： for sittest thou to judge me after the law； and
commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law？〃 〃They that stood by said；
Revilest thou God's high priest？〃 With his usual courtesy Paul answered； 〃I
wish not； brethren； that he was the high priest： for it is written； Thou
shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people。
〃But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees； and the other
Pharisees； he cried out in the council； Men and brethren； I am a Pharisee；
the son of a Pharisee： of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called
in question。
〃And when he had so said； there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and
the Sadducees： and the multitude was divided。 For the Sadducees say that
there is no resurrection； neither angel； nor spirit： but the Pharisees
confess both。〃 The two parties began to dispute between themselves； and thus
the strength of their opposition against Paul was broken。 〃The scribes that
were of the Pharisees' part arose； and strove； saying； We find no evil in
this man： but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him； let us not fight
against God。〃
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In the confusion that followed； the Sadducees were eagerly striving to gain
possession of the apostle； that they might put him to death； and the
Pharisees were as eager in striving to protect him。 〃The chief captain；
fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them； commanded the
soldiers to go down； and to take him by force from among them； and to bring
him into the castle。〃
Later； while reflecting on the trying experiences of the day； Paul began to
fear that his course might not have been pleasing to God。 Could it be that
he had made a mistake after all in visiting Jerusalem？ Had his great desire
to be in union with his brethren led to this disastrous result？
The position which the Jews as God's professed people occupied before an
unbelieving world； caused the apostle intense anguish of spirit。 How would
those heathen officers look upon them？claiming to be worshipers of
Jehovah； and assuming sacred office； yet giving themselves up to the control
of blind； unreasoning anger； seeking to destroy even their brethren who
dared to differ with them in religious faith； and turning their most solemn
deliberative council into a scene of strife and wild confusion。 Paul felt
that the name of his God had suffered reproach in the eyes of the heathen。
And now he was in prison； and he knew that his enemies； in their desperate
malice； would resort to any means to put him to death。 Could it be that his
work for the churches was ended and that ravening wolves were to enter in
now？ The cause of Christ was very near to Paul's heart； and with deep
anxiety he thought of the perils of the scattered
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churches； exposed as they were to the persecutions of just such men as he
had encountered in the Sanhedrin council。 In distress and discouragement he
wept and prayed。
In this dark hour the Lord was not unmindful of Hi