I Appeal To Caesar!

Temple courtyard! (While more soldiers stand at instant alert!) A riot has indeed ignited the whole city! The activity centers in the courtyard where a howling mob of angry men is beating another man to death! More shouting people are pouring into the Courtyard! The Roman troops charge upon the scene, splitting open the crowd like an arrow splits an apple. Then, however, the crowd surges back like an ocean wave around the man and soldiers, pushing, pulling and hitting them. The yelling intensifies to a deafening level! The Commander arrests Paul and orders him put in chains, but he can get no answers to his questions from the screaming crowd, at least none he can understand! The crowd pushes, shoves and beats on the soldiers with the same violent intensity they used against Paul! It is an angry crowd, yelling things in Aramaic, seemingly determined to kill this man and anyone who opposes them! The Commander orders his men to transport the beaten man back to the steps leading up to the fortress. The violent mob, however, forces the soldiers to surround Paul and literally lift and carry him up the stairs. Paul suddenly speaks to the Commander in Greek, asking if he can address the crowd. Taken by surprise, the Commander realizes his prisoner is someone special and gives him permission to speak. * * * * * Standing on the steps leading up into the fortress supported by two soldiers, Paul is bloody and beaten, his clothing shredded to rags. Yet, he speaks with volume and clarity in Aramaic to the determined, angry throng. Paul