When this man had been seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, I arrived with my troops and rescued him because I learned that he is a Roman citizen.
So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately. The commander too was alarmed when he realised Paul was a Roman citizen and he had bound him.
As they stretched him out for the lash, Paul said to the centurion standing by, ‘Is it legal for you to scourge a man who is a Roman citizen and is uncondemned? ’