Riots over this and similar things were a constant source of anxiety to

the Roman Governor.  Under Cumanus, who preceded Felix, there had been a riot

which had resulted in the death of a thousand Jews.  And so we read in Acts

`All the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took

Paul, and drew him out of the temple' (Acts 21:30).

The tumult had by this time attracted the attention of the authorities,

and the Temple guard immediately closed the great gate that secured the inner

shrine from profanation.  They then closed the other three gates, or, as Acts

21:30 puts it: `and forthwith the doors were shut'.

Paul was now outside the sacred enclosure, and the mob was therefore

free to shed his blood without defiling the Temple.  From their stations on

the roof of the cloisters, however, the Roman guard had seen what was going

on, and tidings were conveyed to the Captain `that all Jerusalem was in an

uproar'.  The Captain evidently did not underestimate the violence of the

people, for we read that he `took soldiers and centurions', which means that

several hundred soldiers were employed, and ran down the steps connecting the

castle with the court.  And `when they saw the Chief Captain and the

soldiers, they left beating of Paul'.  Paul is now immediately bound with

`two chains', that is, he is handcuffed to two soldiers, one on either side

of him, and the Captain seeks to discover the cause of the tumult, asking him

`who he was, and what he had done'.

As the uproar continues, however, the Captain orders him to be removed

to the castle.  Fearing that they may lose their prey, the mob now rush for

the stairs, and their violence is so great that the soldiers are obliged to

`carry' the apostle.  Paul is now under arrest without warrant.

According to Septimus Buss there were three kinds of custody under

Roman law.

Custodia Publica, when the prisoner was committed to gaol, as in

the case of Paul and Silas at Philippi.

Custodia Libera, when the accused was placed under surveillance

either in his own house, or in the house of a magistrate, who

became responsible (sponsor) for his production in court on the

day of trial, and gave a legal promise for that purpose.

Custodia Militaris, when the accused were given in charge to a

guard of soldiers.

Lysias, the Captain, is surprised when Paul addresses him in good

Greek, for he evidently thought he had captured an Egyptian who had led over

4,000 assassins into the wilderness.  A second riot threatens to follow the

apostle's speech from the stairs, and so the prisoner is taken into the

castle, and examined.  Lysias now commands that Paul shall be scourged as a

means of extracting a confession from him, but while he is being bound and

`bent forward' (proteinan), he quietly says to the Centurion:

`Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and

uncondemned?' (Acts 22:25).