Welcome and thank you for taking a bible break to test your knowledge of God's word.
This week's question:

While the apostles were working miracles by the hand of God, bringing many to the Lord, not everyone was pleased to observe these events, "And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number, to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on any one of them. Also the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed. Imprisonment and Release But the high priest rose up, along with all his associates (that is ) the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy. They laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public jail. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said, 'Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life.'" (Acts 5:14-20).

The apostles then went back to the streets teaching Jesus and when they were not found in jail their oppressors recaptured them and again brought them before the council who charged, "When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them, saying, 'We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.' But Peter and the apostles answered, 'We must obey God rather than men.'" (Acts 27-29).

The council wanted to slay them, but a wiser one named Gamaliel said, "And he said to them, 'Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men. For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined up with him. But he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census and drew away some people after him; he too perished, and all those who followed him were scattered. So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.' They took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them." (Acts 5:35-40)

That brings us to our question, "Who thought Paul was an Egyptian?". In a similar fashion, when Paul had traveled back to Jerusalem and was in the temple, some Asian Jews saw him, "crying out, 'Men of Israel, come to our aid! This is the man who preaches to all men everywhere against our people and the Law and this place; and besides he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.' For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. Then all the city was provoked, and the people rushed together, and taking hold of Paul they dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut. While they were seeking to kill him, a report came up to the commander of the Roman cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. At once he took along some soldiers and centurions and ran down to them; and when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul." (Acts 21:28-32). Paul had to be carried away to the barracks by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob.

So then, for the answer to our question we turn and read, "As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the commander, 'May I say something to you?' And he said, 'Do you know Greek? ' Then you are not the Egyptian who some time ago stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?' But Paul said, 'I am a Jew of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city; and I beg you, allow me to speak to the people.'"
(Acts 21:37-39).

So there we have the answer to our question, as it was the commander of the Roman cohort who thought he was an Egyptian! Interestingly enough, this commander saves Paul more than once, and we even find out his name as he penned a letter to Felix governor of Caesarea, and the commanders' name is none other than Claudius Lysias
(Acts 23:23-26)!

May we be as brave as these apostles, who in the face of death were ready to tell the story of the Christ that they might repent and be baptized for eternal life (Acts 2:36-41, Romans 6:1-6, & 1 Peter 3:21)!