Acts 21:39

21:39 Paul answered, ¹  “I am a Jew ²  from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of an important city. ³  Please ⁴  allow me to speak to the people.”

Acts 22:28

22:28 The commanding officer ⁵  answered, “I acquired this citizenship with a large sum of money.” ⁶  “But I was even ⁷  born a citizen,” ⁸  Paul replied. ⁹ 

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¹ tn Grk “said.”

² tn Grk “a Jewish man.”

³ tn Grk “of a not insignificant city.” The double negative, common in Greek, is awkward in English and has been replaced by a corresponding positive expression (BDAG 142 s.v. ἄσημος 1).

⁴ tn Grk “I beg you.”

⁵ tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. 24.

⁶ sn Sometimes Roman citizenship was purchased through a bribe (Dio Cassius, Roman History 60.17.4-9). That may well have been the case here.

⁷ tn BDAG 495-96 s.v. καί 2.b has “intensive: even…Ac 5:39; 22:28.”

⁸ tn The word “citizen” is supplied here for emphasis and clarity.

sn Paul’s reference to being born a citizen suggests he inherited his Roman citizenship from his family.

⁹ tn Grk “Paul said.” This phrase has been placed at the end of the sentence in the translation for stylistic reasons.