Paul had been accused of violating Jewish laws and customs. The angry mob started beating him, only stopping when the police showed up. The scene was so chaotic that the commanding officer was not able to discern the facts, but he arrested Paul and bound him with chains. Soldiers had to carry him away because of the violence of the crowd. Then as he is brought into the barracks, Paul asks permission to address the mob that’s just beaten him up. Standing on the steps, bloody and bruised, Paul motions with his hand, and everyone becomes quiet as he speaks to them in their own language (21:27-40). What they hear is the dramatic story of a life transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ. In Acts 22, Paul begins his testimony by establishing his Jewish credentials. Before meeting Christ, he was extremely religious, zealous for the Hebrew traditions of his fathers. Educated under the most celebrated rabbi of the day, Paul learned to love and live by God’s law. As a young theologian, he was convinced that followers of Jesus were a dangerous cult threatening the purity of Israel, so he did everything in his power to eliminate them (v 1-5). He certainly wasn’t seeking Christ when Christ suddenly found him on the road to Damascus. Blinded by a bright light from heaven, Paul was then jolted by the provocative question, “Why are you persecuting Me?” Jesus had been executed three decades earlier, so Paul hadn’t hurt Him directly. But Jesus so identifies with His people that to persecute a Christian is to persecute Him! Suddenly Paul realized that in his religious zeal he had actually been opposing God! Proceeding to Damascus, he was welcomed by a highly respected Jewish man named Ananias. Paul’s sight was restored and he was baptized (v 6-16). When he returned to Jerusalem, he heard from Christ once again. While at the temple, Paul was told in a vision that his testimony would be rejected in this town, but he was to take the message “far away to the Gentiles.” Today we are the beneficiaries of his witness. Indeed, through his writings, the testimony of Paul continues to reach every corner of the world (v 17-21). But it was his mention of “the Gentiles” that marked the conclusion of Paul’s testimony, for at this point the crowd becomes unruly once again. They are offended by the notion that Gentiles could be saved by God apart from the Law of Moses. They would have flogged him for blasphemy if Paul hadn’t raised the issue of his Roman citizenship. To punish him without due legal process would be an unlawful use of power. So Paul is unbound and brought for a hearing before the Jewish religious leaders (v 22-30). For further meditation: