They were trying to kill him when word reached the commander of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion.
In context
29They had earlier seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple. 30The whole city was thrown into turmoil, the people came running from every side, and they grabbed Paul and dragged him out of the temple; and at once the gates were shut. 31They were trying to kill him when word reached the commander of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. 32He immediately took soldiers and centurions and charged down on them; and when the crowd saw the commander and the soldiers they stopped beating Paul. 33The commander came up, arrested him and ordered him bound with two chains, then asked who he was and what he had done.