What does Paul recount and how does citizenship halt the torture preparation?

Paul asks men, brethren and fathers to hear his account. On hearing Hebrew they become more silent. He identifies himself as a Jew born at Tarsus in Cilicia and brought up in this city at Gamaliel’s feet, instructed in the truth of the fathers’ law and zealous as they are. He persecuted this way to death, imprisoning men and women. The high priest and ancients witness to the letters he received to bring people from Damascus bound to Jerusalem for punishment.

Near Damascus at midday a great heavenly light shone around him. Falling, he heard Saul repeated and the question why he persecuted the speaker. Asked his identity, the speaker said Jesus of Nazareth whom Paul persecuted. The companions saw the light but did not hear the voice. The annotation explains that they heard it without distinguishing the words, citing Acts 9:7. Paul asked what to do, and the Lord directed him to Damascus for instructions. Unable to see because of the brightness, he was led there by hand. Ananias, a man according to the law with testimony from all the resident Jews, told brother Saul to look up; that hour Paul looked upon him. Ananias said the fathers’ God appointed him to know his will, see the Just One and hear his voice. The annotation identifies the Just One as the Saviour who appeared to Paul. He would witness to all men what he saw and heard. Ananias urged him to rise, be baptized and wash away his sins while invoking his name.

Returning to Jerusalem and praying in the temple, Paul entered a trance. He saw the Lord commanding haste out of Jerusalem because the people would not receive his testimony. Paul replied that they knew his imprisoning and synagogue beating of believers, and that at Stephen’s bloodshed he stood consenting and kept the killers’ garments. The Lord sent him to Gentiles far away. The hearers listened until this word, then cried that he was unfit to live and should be removed from the earth. They cast off garments and threw dust. The tribune ordered him brought into the castle and scourged and tortured to learn the cause of the outcry.

Bound with thongs, Paul asked the centurion whether scourging an uncondemned Roman was lawful. The centurion warned the tribune of his Roman citizenship. Asked to confirm it, Paul said yes. The tribune had purchased his citizenship at great cost, while Paul was born so. Those about to torture him immediately withdrew. The tribune feared on learning Paul was Roman and that he had bound him. The next day, seeking the accusations’ cause more diligently, he released Paul, summoned the priests and whole council, and set him before them.