{When he had given him leave} (epitrepsantos autou).
Genitive absolute of aorist active participle of the same verb
epitrep(935c). {Standing on the stairs} (hest(9373) epi t(936e)
anabathm(936e)). Second perfect active participle of hist(886d)i, to
place, but intransitive to stand. Dramatic scene. Paul had faced
many audiences and crowds, but never one quite like this. Most
men would have feared to speak, but not so Paul. He will speak
about himself only as it gives him a chance to put Christ before
this angry Jewish mob who look on Paul as a renegade Jew, a
turncoat, a deserter, who went back on Gamaliel and all the
traditions of his people, who not only turned from Judaism to
Christianity, but who went after Gentiles and treated Gentiles as
if they were on a par with Jews. Paul knows only too well what
this mob thinks of him. {Beckoned with the hand} (kateseise t(8869)
cheiri). He shook down to the multitude with the hand
(instrumental case cheiri), while Alexander, Luke says
( 19:33 ), "shook down the hand" (accusative with the same verb,
which see). In  26:1  Paul reached out the hand (ekteinas t(886e)
cheira). {When there was made a great silence} (poll(8873) sig(8873)
genomen(8873)). Genitive absolute again with second aorist middle
participle of ginomai, "much silence having come." Paul waited
till silence had come. {In the Hebrew language} (	(8869) Ebraidi
dialekt(9369)). The Aramaean which the people in Jerusalem knew
better than the Greek. Paul could use either tongue at will. His
enemies had said in Corinth that "his bodily presence was weak
and his speech contemptible" ( 2Co 10:10 ). But surely even they
would have to admit that Paul's stature and words reach heroic
proportions on this occasion. Self-possessed with majestic poise
Paul faces the outraged mob beneath the stairs.