Acts 22:17-29 - Paul's Call To Preach To The Gentiles
17 And when I was returned to Jerusalem, and was praying in the temple, I was in a trance. 18 And I saw Him saying unto me, Make haste and go quickly out of Jerusalem; for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.
19 And I said, Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and scourged in the synagogues them that believed on Thee. 20 And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also stood by and consented to his death, and kept the clothes of them that slew him.
21 But he said unto me, Go away; for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.---
22 And they heard him to this word, and then they exalted their voice, saying, Away with such a fellow from the earth; for it is not fit that he should live.
23 And as they were bawling out, and throwing off their clothes, and casting up dust into the air, 24 the tribune commanded him to be brought into the castle, and ordered him to be put to the question by scourging; that he might know for what reason they so cried out against him. 25 And as they were binding him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, uncondemned?
26 And the centurion hearing this, went and told the tribune, saying, Consider what thou art about to do; for this man is a Roman.
27 Then the tribune came and said to him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? And he said, Yes.
28 And the tribune replied, I obtained this freedom with a large sum of money. And Paul said, But I was free-born.
29 Immediately therefore those who were going to put him to the question quitted him: and the tribune also was afraid, when he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.