and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia, a Roman colony; and we were staying in this city for some days.

While they were seeking to kill him, a report came up to the commander of the Roman cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion.

But when they stretched him out with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman and uncondemned?”

When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and told him, saying, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman.”

The commander came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” And he said, “Yes.”

Therefore those who were about to examine him immediately let go of him; and the commander also was afraid when he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had put him in chains.

“When this man was arrested by the Jews and was about to be slain by them, I came up to them with the troops and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.