18 I saw the Lord speaking to me. ‘Hurry!’ he said. ‘Leave Jerusalem at once because they won’t accept your testimony about me.’
19 I responded, ‘Lord, these people know I used to go from one synagogue to the next, beating those who believe in you and throwing them into prison.
20 When Stephen your witness was being killed, I stood there giving my approval, even watching the clothes that belonged to those who were killing him.’
21 Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go! I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’"
22 The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they shouted, "Away with this man! He’s not fit to live!"
23 As they were screaming, throwing off their garments, and flinging dust into the air,
24 the commander directed that Paul be taken into the military headquarters. He ordered that Paul be questioned under the whip so that he could find out why they were shouting at him like this.