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Now it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance
18
and saw Him saying to me, 'Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.'
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So I said, 'Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe on You.
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And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by consenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.'
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Then He said to me, 'Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.' "
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And they listened to him until this word, and then they raised their voices and said, "Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he is not fit to live!"
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Then, as they cried out and tore off their clothes and threw dust into the air,
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the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, and said that he should be examined under scourging, so that he might know why they shouted so against him.
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And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, "Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?"
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When the centurion heard that, he went and told the commander, saying, "Take care what you do, for this man is a Roman."
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Then the commander came and said to him, "Tell me, are you a Roman?" He said, "Yes."