Acts 21:40

And when he had given him licence[leave, R. V.. And as the same verb occurs in the previous verse, the Rev. Ver.has there "give me leave to speak, &c." It is fitting that in such passages the renderings should be uniform.

Paul … people Apparently the chief captain had also been so far impressed by the conversation of his prisoner, that he allowed at least one of his hands to be released from its chain while he spake to the multitude, and this he waved to ask for silence.

And … great silence The unusual circumstance, and the gesture which could be seen through the whole crowd, would gain an audience very readily. Beside which an Oriental mob is less persistent than those of the western world.

he spake … in the Hebrew tongue[language, R. V. This alone, as soon as it was heard, would gain the speaker an audience with many. It was their own speech. For by "Hebrew" here is meant the Aramaic dialect of Palestine.