Acts 21:39

Addressing the Jerusalem Mob

37 Then as Paul was about to be led into the barracks, he said to the commander, “May I speak to you?” He replied, “Can you speak Greek?

38 ^aAre you not the Egyptian who some time ago stirred up a rebellion and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?”

39 But Paul said, ^a“I am a Jew from Tarsus, in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city; and I implore you, permit me to speak to the people.”

40 So when he had given him permission, Paul stood on the stairs and ^amotioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the ^bHebrew language, saying,

Commentaries:

Adam Clarke

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Acts 21:39

I am a man which am a Jew - A periphrasis for, I am a Jew. See the note on Acts 7:2.

Of Tarsus - no mean city - In the notes on Acts 9:11, I have shown that Tarsus was a city of considerable importance, and in some measure a rival to Rome and Athens; and that, because of the services tendered to the Romans by the inhabitants, Julius Caesar endowed them with all the rights and privileges of Roman citizens. When St. Paul calls it no mean city, he speaks a language that was common to those who have had occasion to speak of Tarsus. Xenophon, Cyri Anabas. i., calls it, , a great and flourishing city. Josephus, Ant. lib. i. cap. 6, sec. 6, says that it was ' ̔ , the metropolis and most renowned city among them (the Cilicians.) And Ammianus Marcellinus, xiv. 8, says, Ciliciam Tarsus nobilitat, urbs perspicabilis : "Tarsus, a very respectable city; adorns Cilicia."

**Other Adam Clarke entries containing Acts 21:39:**

Acts 22:3
Acts 22:28
Acts 22:28

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Acts 21:40 >>

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