Commentaries:Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
<< Acts 21:38 Acts 21:40 >>
Acts 21:39
I am (Egw men eimi). In contrast with the wild guess of Lysias Paul uses men and de. He tells briefly who he is:
a Jew (Ioudaiov) by race,
of Tarsus in Cilicia (Tarseuv thv Kilikiav) by country, belonging to Tarsus (this adjective Tarseuv only here and Acts 9:11), and proud of it, one of the great cities of the empire with a great university.
A citizen of no mean city (ouk ashmou polewv polithv). Litotes again, "no mean" (ashmov, old adjective, unmarked, a privative and shma, mark, insignificant, here only in the N.T.). This same litotes used by Euripides of Athens (Ion 8). But Paul calls himself a citizen (polithv) of Tarsus. Note the "effective assonance" (Page) in polewv polithv. Paul now (de) makes his request (deomai) of Lysias.
Give me leave (epitreyon moi). First aorist active imperative of epitrepw, old and common verb to turn to, to permit, to allow. It was a strange request and a daring one, to wish to speak to this mob howling for Paul's blood.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Acts 21:39:
Luke 15:15
Acts 1:5
Acts 22:3
Acts 22:28
<< Acts 21:38 Acts 21:40 >> DISCLAIMER: Church of the Great God (CGG) provides these resources to aid the individual in studying the Bible. However, it is up to the individual to "prove all things, and hold fast to that which is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21). The content of these resources does not necessarily reflect the views of CGG. They are provided for information purposes only.
Join 138,526+ readers
A Verse and a Thought,
Every Morning
Consistent Bible study is hard to start.
The Berean gives you the starting point: one scripture and a focused commentary in your inbox each morning — read it in minutes, or go as deep as you like.
Free, daily, and spam-free. We never share your address. Unsubscribe anytime.