As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek? Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?” Paul replied, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.” And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying:
“Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.”
And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said:
“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day.
Comment: As we have noted many times before whilst going through Acts, Paul is prepared to suffer great physical hardship for the gospel. Here he is prepared to argue his case, I suspect not to escape hardship but so that the truth was known. He was not seeking to belittle the Law or have Moses overlooked. He had not taken an Ephesian into the temple. Having sorted things out with the Romans as to who he was, he starts his talk by a quick listing of his standing in Judaism. He was well taught by the best teachers of the day and more than just being a Jew he was zealous for Judaism and the faith of his and their fathers. This is stage one of his presentation in self defence! We’ll see where this leads as we continue in the next few days.
Prayer: Lord give me graciousness and wisdom, I pray, as I give an answer for my faith in You.
As I read it! 