Some cried one thing and some another in such confusion that the chief captain could understand nothing; so he said to the soldiers, "Carry him to the castle." [Sidenote: On the Castle Steps.] As the soldiers bore Paul away, the mob, acting like wolves after their prey, followed, crying, "Away with him." Just as they were going up the steps into the castle, Paul speaking in Greek said to the chief captain, "May I speak unto thee?" "Canst thou speak Greek?" answered the captain, "Aren't you that Egyptian who sometime ago made an uproar here and led out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers?" "I am a Jew from Tarsus," answered Paul, "a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city, I beseech thee let me speak unto the people." Hoping to learn something about the cause of the uproar the chief captain gave his consent. Paul turned to the people and beckoned for them to be quiet. Their yelling ceased, especially when they heard Paul speak in Hebrew, their own language. [1] [Sidenote: The Word "Gentiles."] The Jews listened to him quietly until he happened to mention the word "Gentiles," then they cried, "Away with such a fellow from the earth; for it is not fit that he should live." In their anger, they took off their coats and threw dust in the air to show how they hated him. [Sidenote: Ordered Whipped.] Being still in doubt as to what Paul had done, the chief captain ordered him brought into the castle and whipped until Paul told why the Jews cried so against him. As they were binding him to beat him, Paul said to the centurion who stood by. "Is it lawful for you to whip a man who is a Roman and uncondemned?" When the centurion heard this, he hurried to the chief captain saying, "Take heed what thou doest; for this man is a Roman." Then the chief captain came and said to Paul, "Tell me, art thou a Roman?" "Yes," answered Paul. "With a great sum obtained I this freedom," said Claudius. "But I was a free born Roman," proudly answered Paul. When they heard this, those who were going to torture him hurried away from him, and the chief captain, too, was troubled; for he knew he had no right to put chains on a Roman citizen who had not had a fair trial. BEFORE ANANIAS THE HIGH PRIEST Next morning Paul was brought before Ananias the High Priest and the Council. [Sidenote: Paul Smitten.] "And Paul earnestly beholding the council said, "Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day." At this Ananias became so enraged that he said to those who stood by Paul, "Smite him on the mouth." "God shall smite thee, thou whited wall," answered Paul with sudden anger. "Sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?" [Sidenote: Temper Controlled.] Those who stood nearest Paul said, "Revilest thou God's High Priest?" Then Paul, getting control of his feelings answered,