Acts 22:17-29 - Paul's Call To Preach To The Gentiles
17 at length being return'd to Jerusalem, one day as I was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance. 18 then I saw JESUS, who said to me, "make haste, and go out of Jerusalem immediately: for they will not receive the attestations you would give of me." Lord,
19 said I, they know it is I that imprison'd those who believed on thee, and caus'd them to be scourg'd in the assemblies: 20 that I was present, when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, that I abetted the slaughter, and watch'd the clothes of those who slew him.
21 but the Lord said to me, "be gone, for I will send you far hence, even to the Gentiles."
22 Till that word, the Jews had given their attention, but then they broke out into a full cry, "out of the world with such a fellow: for it is not fit he should live."
23 thus they roar'd, and threw off their cloaks, and scatter'd dust in the air: 24 when the commanding officer order'd him to be brought into the castle, and put to the question by the lash, in order to find out the reason of their exclamations against him. 25 as they were tying him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion, does the law allow to scourge a Roman citizen, and without any trial?
26 upon hearing that, the centurion went to acquaint the head officer, take care, said he, what you do; for this man is a Roman.
27 then the head officer came to him, and said, tell me, are you a Roman?
28 he answer'd, yes. the officer rejoin'd, my freedom cost me a considerable sum. but I had it, said Paul, by right of birth.
29 immediately those who were going to put him to the question, withdrew: the commander himself being under some apprehension for having order'd him to be bound.