Acts 21:39

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

Paul answered,“I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of an important city. Please allow me to speak to the people.”

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Acts 9:11 : 11 Then the Lord told him,“Get up and go to the street called‘Straight,’ and at Judas’ house look for a man from Tarsus named Saul. For he is praying,
  • Acts 22:3 : 3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated with strictness under Gamaliel according to the law of our ancestors, and was zealous for God just as all of you are today.
  • Acts 6:9 : 9 But some men from the Synagogue of the Freedmen(as it was called), both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, as well as some from Cilicia and the province of Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen.
  • Acts 22:25-29 : 25 When they had stretched him out for the lash, Paul said to the centurion standing nearby,“Is it legal for you to lash a man who is a Roman citizen without a proper trial?” 26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the commanding officer and reported it, saying,“What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.” 27 So the commanding officer came and asked Paul,“Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” He replied,“Yes.” 28 The commanding officer answered,“I acquired this citizenship with a large sum of money.”“But I was even born a citizen,” Paul replied. 29 Then those who were about to interrogate him stayed away from him, and the commanding officer was frightened when he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had had him tied up.
  • Acts 23:27 : 27 This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him, when I came up with the detachment and rescued him, because I had learned that he was a Roman citizen.
  • Acts 23:34 : 34 When the governor had read the letter, he asked what province he was from. When he learned that he was from Cilicia,
  • 1 Pet 3:15 : 15 But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess.
  • 1 Pet 4:15-16 : 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or thief or criminal or as a troublemaker. 16 But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear such a name.
  • Acts 9:30 : 30 When the brothers found out about this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.
  • Acts 15:23 : 23 They sent this letter with them: From the apostles and elders, your brothers, to the Gentile brothers and sisters in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia, greetings!
  • Acts 15:41 : 41 He passed through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
  • Acts 16:37 : 37 But Paul said to the police officers,“They had us beaten in public without a proper trial– even though we are Roman citizens– and they threw us in prison. And now they want to send us away secretly? Absolutely not! They themselves must come and escort us out!”
  • Acts 21:37 : 37 As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the commanding officer,“May I say something to you?” The officer replied,“Do you know Greek?

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Acts 21:40
    78%

    40When the commanding officer had given him permission, Paul stood on the steps and gestured to the people with his hand. When they had become silent, he addressed them in Aramaic,

  • Acts 22:1-3
    3 verses
    74%

    1Paul’s Defense“Brothers and fathers, listen to my defense that I now make to you.”

    2(When they heard that he was addressing them in Aramaic, they became even quieter.) Then Paul said,

    3“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated with strictness under Gamaliel according to the law of our ancestors, and was zealous for God just as all of you are today.

  • Acts 21:36-38
    3 verses
    73%

    36for a crowd of people followed them, screaming,“Away with him!”

    37As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the commanding officer,“May I say something to you?” The officer replied,“Do you know Greek?

    38Then you’re not that Egyptian who started a rebellion and led the four thousand men of the‘Assassins’ into the wilderness some time ago?”

  • Acts 28:17-19
    3 verses
    72%

    17Paul Addresses the Jewish Community in Rome After three days Paul called the local Jewish leaders together. When they had assembled, he said to them,“Brothers, although I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, from Jerusalem I was handed over as a prisoner to the Romans.

    18When they had heard my case, they wanted to release me, because there was no basis for a death sentence against me.

    19But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar– not that I had some charge to bring against my own people.

  • Acts 22:25-28
    4 verses
    72%

    25When they had stretched him out for the lash, Paul said to the centurion standing nearby,“Is it legal for you to lash a man who is a Roman citizen without a proper trial?”

    26When the centurion heard this, he went to the commanding officer and reported it, saying,“What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.”

    27So the commanding officer came and asked Paul,“Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” He replied,“Yes.”

    28The commanding officer answered,“I acquired this citizenship with a large sum of money.”“But I was even born a citizen,” Paul replied.

  • Acts 26:1-4
    4 verses
    71%

    1Paul Offers His Defense So Agrippa said to Paul,“You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul held out his hand and began his defense:

    2“Regarding all the things I have been accused of by the Jews, King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate that I am about to make my defense before you today,

    3because you are especially familiar with all the customs and controversial issues of the Jews. Therefore I ask you to listen to me patiently.

    4Now all the Jews know the way I lived from my youth, spending my life from the beginning among my own people and in Jerusalem.

  • Acts 23:6
    70%

    6Then when Paul noticed that part of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, he shouted out in the council,“Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am on trial concerning the hope of the resurrection of the dead!”

  • Acts 25:8-11
    4 verses
    70%

    8Paul said in his defense,“I have committed no offense against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.”

    9But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, asked Paul,“Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and be tried before me there on these charges?”

    10Paul replied,“I am standing before Caesar’s judgment seat, where I should be tried. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you also know very well.

    11If then I am in the wrong and have done anything that deserves death, I am not trying to escape dying, but if not one of their charges against me is true, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”

  • Acts 24:10
    70%

    10Paul’s Defense Before Felix When the governor gestured for him to speak, Paul replied,“Because I know that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I confidently make my defense.

  • Acts 13:16
    69%

    16So Paul stood up, gestured with his hand and said,“Men of Israel, and you Gentiles who fear God, listen:

  • Acts 24:4
    69%

    4But so that I may not delay you any further, I beg you to hear us briefly with your customary graciousness.

  • Acts 24:20-21
    2 verses
    69%

    20Or these men here should tell what crime they found me guilty of when I stood before the council,

    21other than this one thing I shouted out while I stood before them:‘I am on trial before you today concerning the resurrection of the dead.’”

  • Acts 23:34
    69%

    34When the governor had read the letter, he asked what province he was from. When he learned that he was from Cilicia,

  • Acts 25:15
    68%

    15When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me about him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him.

  • Acts 26:21
    67%

    21For this reason the Jews, after they seized me while I was in the temple courts, were trying to kill me.

  • Acts 26:29
    67%

    29Paul replied,“I pray to God that whether in a short or a long time not only you but also all those who are listening to me today could become such as I am, except for these chains.”

  • Acts 21:13
    67%

    13Then Paul replied,“What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be tied up, but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

  • Acts 23:18-19
    2 verses
    67%

    18So the centurion took him and brought him to the commanding officer and said,“The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.”

    19The commanding officer took him by the hand, withdrew privately, and asked,“What is it that you want to report to me?”

  • Acts 21:28
    67%

    28shouting,“Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people, our law, and this sanctuary! Furthermore he has brought Greeks into the inner courts of the temple and made this holy place ritually unclean!”

  • Acts 22:21-22
    2 verses
    67%

    21Then he said to me,‘Go, because I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”

    22The Roman Commander Questions Paul The crowd was listening to him until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted,“Away with this man from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live!”

  • Acts 23:27
    67%

    27This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him, when I came up with the detachment and rescued him, because I had learned that he was a Roman citizen.

  • Acts 23:1
    67%

    1Paul looked directly at the council and said,“Brothers, I have lived my life with a clear conscience before God to this day.”

  • Acts 23:9
    67%

    9There was a great commotion, and some experts in the law from the party of the Pharisees stood up and protested strongly,“We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”

  • Acts 19:30
    67%

    30But when Paul wanted to enter the public assembly, the disciples would not let him.

  • Acts 25:20-21
    2 verses
    67%

    20Because I was at a loss how I could investigate these matters, I asked if he were willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried there on these charges.

    21But when Paul appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of His Majesty the Emperor, I ordered him to be kept under guard until I could send him to Caesar.”

  • Acts 23:11
    67%

    11The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said,“Have courage, for just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

  • Acts 18:10
    66%

    10because I am with you, and no one will assault you to harm you, because I have many people in this city.”

  • Acts 23:30
    66%

    30When I was informed there would be a plot against this man, I sent him to you at once, also ordering his accusers to state their charges against him before you.

  • 2 Cor 11:22
    66%

    22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.

  • Acts 22:19
    66%

    19I replied,‘Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat those in the various synagogues who believed in you.

  • Acts 24:2
    66%

    2When Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying,“We have experienced a lengthy time of peace through your rule, and reforms are being made in this nation through your foresight.