Acts 21:38
Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers? Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers?
When word came that all Jerusalem was in an uproar, Claudius Lysias, the commander of the Roman garrison, rushed down to the temple court with his officers and a strong force of armed men, knowing how turbulent the people were. Ignorant of the cause of the tumult but seeing the multitude's rage directed against Paul, he concluded Paul must be the Egyptian rebel, and he had Paul seized and bound between two soldiers, chained by a hand to each. That Egyptian had recently stirred an uprising and led four thousand men out into the wilderness, men described as murderers, as robbers and murderers, and as violent men, and he had escaped capture and successfully eluded Roman vigilance.
He was an impostor who claimed to be the Messiah and caused a riot and massacre at the Passover season. Felix had pursued and driven that rebel away. Paul denied being that Egyptian and identified himself as a Jew from Tarsus. Paul had intended to be in Jerusalem for that Passover but was forced at Corinth to change his course and go by way of Macedonia because of a Jewish plot against his life, and by providence this delay kept him away, for had he been present he would have been accused of instigating the Egyptian's uproar.
After this questioning Paul was granted permission to speak, and standing on the stairs he beckoned with his hand to the people in a gesture that attracted attention, while his bearing commanded respect, so that a great silence fell. He then began his defense in the Hebrew tongue, and at the sound of the familiar words the people kept still greater silence in universal hush as he continued.