might see that he was not a
renegade. The consequences of this advice soon became
evident.

+The Temple Riot and Paul's Imprisonment+ (Acts
21:26-39).--When the days of purification for his
companions were almost completed some Jews of Asia saw
him and at once raised a great tumult. It is a wonder
that he was not seen and recognized earlier. Doubtless
the Asian Jews had been restrained in their own cities
from wreaking their hatred upon Paul to the full, by the
strong arm of the Roman magistrate. At once a great
outcry was raised and Paul would have fared badly if he
had not been rescued by the Roman soldiers, to be
imprisoned by them.

+The Speech of Paul to the Rioters+ (Acts 21:40-22:23).--He
requested that he be permitted to speak to
this angry crowd of fanatic Jews, who were howling for
his life. What would he say? What defense could he
make? Listen to him! He is telling the story of his life
and conversion, on the way to Damascus. He is glorifying
Jesus and urging them to believe in Him. There is
not one word about the indignities that have been heaped
upon himself. This personal testimony in this city where
Paul had been the chief persecutor was wonderful. But
as the Jews had demanded the life of Christ, when he was
upon earth and testified to His mission, so now they
demanded the life of Paul.

+Before the Jewish Council+ (Acts 22:24-23:10).--Paul,
rescued from the clutches of the mob, would have
been scourged by the Romans had he not declared himself
a Roman. On the morrow, taken before the Sanhedrin,
and seeing no hope of any justice being done him, he sets
one party of it over against the other by declaring that he
was a Pharisee and "of the hope of the resurrection of
the dead I am called in question." So great was the
dissension that arose over this matter that Paul was faring
badly when he was rescued by the chief captain and his
soldiers.

+Paul Comforted by God+ (Acts 23:10).--Paul must
have been quite worn out with the tumults and mobs of
the last two days. The encouragement of God speaking
to him and telling him to be of good cheer, and that as he
had testified of Him in Jerusalem, he must also bear
witness in Rome, put a new heart in him. It had been
Paul's great desire to visit Rome and preach Christ in
that city (Rome 1:11-15; Acts 19:21).

+Conspiracy of Jewish Fanatics+ (Acts 23:10-30).--The
mad hatred of the Jews against Paul is shown by
more than forty men binding