Paul seems to have had such a commanding presence that the great crowd fell silent. He spoke a language they loved — the Hebrew.
V.1-5 He reviews his life again. In chapter 9 we read of the actual happenings. Here, and in chapter 26, he recounts it again, skillfully adapting the details to the audience before him. He tells of his Jewish birth, education at the feet of Gamaliel (a renowned Jewish teacher of the law), his zeal for God — before he was saved, and when he was persecuting the believers. He conceded that his hearers possessed this same zeal. He reminds them he himself had persecuted “this way” even unto killing.
V.6-11 He recites the miracle which then transpired, how he heard the voice of Jesus from heaven speaking to him.
V.12-21 They listened in silence to all this, until the last sentence. And at this they let loose the cry of verse 22.
V.24-30 Paul is brought inside. Because he was born in a city which had the privileges similar to Rome itself, he was considered a Roman citizen. Therefore, they were very careful how they treated Paul.