Bede : As they were shouting, throwing off their cloaks, and throwing dust into the air. In the Lord's passion, the priest alone leaping from the throne tears his garments, because then the old priesthood was to be changed to the new. But now, because after the death of the apostles, the whole nation was to be stripped of the glory of the kingdom, all throw off their garments, and lift their clamor mixed with dust to heaven. According to what the Psalmist says: "The pride of those who hate you rises always" (Psalms 73). — Commentary on Acts Cassiodorus : "And as they cried out and threw off their garments," etc. As the Jews made an uproar and threw dust up into the sky, the tribune commanded Paul to be brought into the castle. While they whipped him to learn the cause of the uproar that had been stirred up, Paul said to the centurion that stood by him: "See if it is lawful for you to scourge a Roman that hath not been condemned. "Terrified by these words, he loosed him and put the imminent tortures on hold. On the next day, he ordered Paul and the council of the Jews to present themselves before him, wishing to know for what reason he had been handed over. Then Paul, looking on the crowd of the Jews, spoke thus. — Complexiones on the Acts of the Apostles John Chrysostom : "And shaking out their clothes," it says, "they threw dust into the air," to make insurrection more fierce, because they wished to frighten the governor. And observe; they do not say what the charge was, as in fact they had nothing to allege, but only think to strike terror by their shouting. "The tribune commanded," etc. and yet he ought to have learnt from the accusers, "wherefore they cried so against him." Whereas both the tribune ought to have examined whether these things were so-yes, and the Jews themselves too-or, if they were not so, to have ordered him to be scourged, he "bade examine him by scourging, that he might know for what cause they so clamored against him." And yet he ought to have learnt from those clamorers, and to have asked whether they laid hold upon aught of the things spoken: instead of that, without more ado he indulges his arbitrary will and pleasure, and acts with a view to gratify them: for he did not look to this, how he should do a righteous thing, but only how he might stop their rage unrighteous as it was. — Homily on Acts 48