Then the chiliarch approaching took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains, and inquired who he was and what he had done. But some cried one thing, and some another, in the multitude, and not being able to learn the truth, on account of the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the fortress. And when he was on the steps, it happened that he was borne by the soldiers, on account of the violence of the multitude; read more.
for the multitude of the people followed, crying, Take him away. And being about to be carried into the fortress, Paul said to the chiliarch, May I have permission to speak to you? And he said, Do you understand Greek? Are you not the Egyptian who before these days excited a sedition, and led out into the wilderness the four thousand men who were murderers? And Paul said, I am a Jew, of Tarsus of Cilicia, a citizen of a not undistinguished city, I beg of you, permit me to speak to the people. And he giving him permission, Paul stood up on the steps, and motioned with his hand to the people; and when there was great silence, he spoke in the Hebrew language, and said,

Men, brothers and fathers, hear my present defense before you. And hearing that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept the greater silence. And he said, I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, instructed at the feet of Gamaliel in the accurate interpretation of the law of our fathers, and am a zealous worshipper of God as you all are to-day; read more.
and I persecuted this way to death, binding and committing to prison both men and women, as the chief priest also bears me witness, and all the eldership, from whom also receiving letters to the brothers I went to Damascus, to bring those who were there bound to Jerusalem to be punished. And when I was on the way and had come nigh to Damascus, about noon suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me, and I fell on the earth, and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? And I answered, Who are you, Lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus the Nazoraean, whom you persecute. And those that were with me saw the light, but they heard not the voice of him that spoke to me. And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me, Arise, and go to Damascus, and there it shall be told you of all things which are appointed for you to do. And when I could not see from the brightness of that light, being led by the hand by those with me, I came to Damascus. And a certain Ananias, a man [living] according to the law, approved by all the Jews living [there], coming and standing by, said to me, Brother Saul, Receive your sight. And in that hour I looked upon him. And he said, The God of our fathers chose you to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and hear the voice of his mouth, for you shall be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now, why do you delay? Arising, baptize and wash away your sins, calling on his name. And when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I was in a trance, and saw him [Christ], saying to me, Hasten and depart immediately from Jerusalem, for they will not receive your testimony of me. And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in the synagogues those who believed on you; and when the blood of your martyr Stephen was poured out, I also stood by and consented, and kept the clothes of those that killed him. And he said to me, Go, for I will send you to nations far away.