Acts 22:17-29 - Paul's Call To Preach To The Gentiles
17 And it happened unto me, having returned into Jerusalem, and while I was praying in the temple, I was in an ecstasy; 18 and I saw Him speaking to me, Hasten, and depart quickly out of Jerusalem, because they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.
19 And I said, Lord, they know that I was imprisoning and binding those believing on thee throughout the synagogue; 20 and when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I was standing by, and consenting, and keeping the garments of those killing him.
21 And He said to me, Go: because I will send thee far away to the Gentiles.
22 And they continued to hear him until this word, and lifted up their voice, saying, Take away such a one from the earth: for it is not appropriate for him to live.
23 And they crying out, and rending their garments, and throwing dust into the air, 24 the chiliarch commanded that he should be led into the castle, saying that he should be tested by scourges, in order that he might know on account of what cause they continued so to cry out against him. 25 And when they were extending him to the scourges, Paul said to the centurion standing by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?
26 And the centurion hearing, having come to the chiliarch, announced to him, saying, What are you about to do? for this man is a Roman.
27 And the chiliarch, having come to him, said; Tell me, are you a Roman? And he said, Yes.
28 And the chiliarch responded, With a great sum obtained I this citizenship. And Paul said, But I was indeed born (a Roman citizen).
29 Then immediately those about to scourge him departed from him: and the chiliarch also feared, knowing that he was a Roman, and that he had bound him.