“I am a Jew,(A) born in Tarsus(B) of Cilicia,(C) but brought up in this city. I studied under(D) Gamaliel(E) and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors.(F) I was just as zealous(G) for God as any of you are today. I persecuted(H) the followers of this Way(I) to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison,(J) as the high priest and all the Council(K) can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates(L) in Damascus,(M) and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.

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25 As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?”(A)

26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. “What are you going to do?” he asked. “This man is a Roman citizen.”

27 The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?”

“Yes, I am,” he answered.

28 Then the commander said, “I had to pay a lot of money for my citizenship.”

“But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied.

29 Those who were about to interrogate him(B) withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen,(C) in chains.(D)

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