The rest of the story. Acts 22.

Well, it's not quite the rest of the story, but at least we get to see the outcome of Paul's speech to the crowd. In fact, we're now in the midst of a philosophical thriller that continues to the end of Acts in chapter 28. The action is fast-paced. The stakes are life and death. The plot is driven by differing belief systems, and the clash of cultures and kingdoms.

Paul begins his speech. The crowd listens. Paul tells his story. The crowd continues to listen even as Paul describes his encounter with Jesus. But then he uses the fatal word, Gentiles, and the crowd erupts, garments rent, dust in the air, screaming, and a dramatic rescue by the Roman officer in charge. Paul is rescued, but only to face a flogging to determine the cause of all the uproar. But Paul is rescued once again, just before the whip touches his skin, this time by his own timely words, "is it legal to flog a Roman citizen...?"

This is great stuff. In our vernacular, "a real page turner," "can't put it down." I'm keeping myself from reading ahead just so I can savor this moment, knowing Paul is about to speak to the Sanhedrin, and that we'll learn more of the rest of the story.