Act 21:39 | RWP | e4.org | I am ( Εγω μεν ειμ ). In contrast with the wild guess of Lysias Paul uses μεν and δε . He tells briefly who he is: a Jew ( Ιουδαιος ) by race, of Tarsus in Cilicia ( Ταρσευς της Κιλικιας ) by country, belonging to Tarsus (this adjective Ταρσευς only here and ), and proud of it, one of the great cities of the empire with a great university. A citizen of no mean city ( ουκ ασημου πολεως πολιτης ). Litotes again, "no mean" ( ασημος , old adjective, unmarked, α privative and σημα , mark, insignificant, here only in the N.T.). This same litotes used by Euripides of Athens ( Ion 8). But Paul calls himself a citizen ( πολιτης ) of Tarsus. Note the "effective assonance" (Page) in πολεως πολιτης . Paul now ( δε ) makes his request ( δεομα ) of Lysias. Give me leave ( επιτρεψον μο ). First aorist active imperative of επιτρεπω , 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.

‏ Acts 21:39

I am ( Εγω μεν ειμ ). In contrast with the wild guess of Lysias Paul uses μεν and δε. He tells briefly who he is:

a Jew ( Ιουδαιος ) by race,

of Tarsus in Cilicia ( Ταρσευς της Κιλικιας ) by country, belonging to Tarsus (this adjective Ταρσευς only here and Ac 9:11), and proud of it, one of the great cities of the empire with a great university.

A citizen of no mean city ( ουκ ασημου πολεως πολιτης ). Litotes again, "no mean" ( ασημος, old adjective, unmarked, α privative and σημα, mark, insignificant, here only in the N.T.). This same litotes used by Euripides of Athens (Ion 8). But Paul calls himself a citizen ( πολιτης ) of Tarsus. Note the "effective assonance" (Page) in πολεως πολιτης. Paul now ( δε ) makes his request ( δεομα ) of Lysias.

Give me leave ( επιτρεψον μο ). First aorist active imperative of επιτρεπω, 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.