Discovery BoxActs 21:39 
Context21:39 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
Context22:28 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
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 The double negative, common in Greek, is awkward in English and has been replaced by a corresponding positive expression (BDAG 142 s.v. ἄσημος 1).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.
