What does Acts 22:22 mean?

Paul's defense has failed. After walking around Jerusalem with Trophimus, a Gentile from Ephesus, Paul stands accused of bringing a Gentile into the temple (Acts 21:27–29). He didn't, but he wants to explain why he was with Trophimus in the first place. He talks about how he first came to trust Jesus for salvation. He notes how Jesus told him the Jews would not accept his story, but the Gentiles would (Acts 22:1–21).

With the mention of Paul's mission to the Gentiles, the crowd remembers why they are angry. They cannot accept that a Jew who still follows the Mosaic law would associate with Gentiles, let alone intentionally have fellowship with them. The mob is so angry, in fact, they plot his murder (Acts 23:12–15).

The Roman army tribune only allowed Paul to speak because he didn't understand why the mob was so upset. He still doesn't understand, so he falls back on a Roman tradition: flogging information out of a prisoner. This turns out to be a mistake, since Paul is a Roman citizen and cannot be tortured unless he is convicted in a fair trial. The next day, the tribune takes Paul to the Sanhedrin where Paul first accidentally insults the high priest and then—seemingly intentionally—takes the attention off himself by setting the Pharisees and Sadducees against each other (Acts 23:1–10). When the tribune learns of the murder plot, he sends Paul to the governor (Acts 23:23–24). This is more than a young officer can handle.