Acts 22:28

Acts 22:28 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.
• New International Version (NIV)Then the commander said, “I had to pay a lot of money for my citizenship.” “But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The tribune answered, "I bought this citizenship for a large sum." Paul said, "But I am a citizen by birth."
• New King James Version (NKJV)The commander answered, “With a large sum I obtained this citizenship.” And Paul said, “But I was born a citizen.”

Context of Acts 22:28

26When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and told him, saying, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman.” 27The commander came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” And he said, “Yes.” The commander answered, “I acquired this citizenship with a large sum of money.” And Paul said, “But I was actually born a citizen.” 29Therefore those who were about to examine him immediately let go of him; and the commander also was afraid when he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had put him in chains. 30But on the next day, wishing to know for certain why he had been accused by the Jews, he released him and ordered the chief priests and all the Council to assemble, and brought Paul down and set him before them.

Acts 22:28 word by word

ἀπεκρίθη δὲ ὁ χιλίαρχος· ἐγὼ πολλοῦ κεφαλαίου τὴν πολιτείαν ταύτην ἐκτησάμην. ὁ δὲ Παῦλος ἔφη· ἐγὼ δὲ καὶ γεγέννημαι.Read the interlinear

• commanderχιλίαρχοςchiliarchos · military officerG5506
• answeredἀποκρίνωapokrinomai · to answerG611
• I acquiredκτάομαιktaomai · to possesG2932
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• citizenshipπολιτείαpoliteia · citizenshipG4174
• with a largeπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
• sumκεφάλαιοςkephalaion · sumG2774
• And PaulΠαῦλοςPaulos · PaulG3972
• saidφημίphēmi · to assertG5346
• But I was actuallyκαίkai · andG2532
• bornγεννάωgennaō · to begetG1080

Commentaries on Acts 22:28

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 28With a great sum obtained I this freedom - So it appears that the freedom, even of Rome, might be purchased, and that it was sold at a very high price. But I was free born - It has been generally believed that the inhabitants of Tarsus, born in that city, had the same rights and privileges as Roman citizens, in consequence of a charter or grant from Julius Caesar. Calmet disputes this, because Tarsus was a free not a colonial city; and he supposes that…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 28With a great sum obtained I this freedom - The freedom or privilege of Roman citizenship. From this it would seem that the privilege of being a Roman citizen might be purchased, unless perhaps he refers to the expenses which were necessarily attendant in passing through the proper forms of becoming a Roman citizen. The argument of the tribune in this case is this: “I obtained this privilege at a great price. Whence did you, Paul, thus poor and persecuted…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 22-30Verses 22-30 The Jews listened to Paul's account of his conversion, but the mention of his being sent to the Gentiles, was so contrary to all their national prejudices, that they would hear no more. Their frantic conduct astonished the Roman officer, who supposed that Paul must have committed some great crime. Paul pleaded his privilege as a Roman citizen, by which he was exempted from all trials and punishments which might force him to confess himself…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 28I paid a high price: During the early rule of Roman emperor Claudius (AD 41–54), people could buy Roman citizenship, but it was expensive.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 27-2927-29. art thou a Roman?--showing that this being of Tarsus, which he had told him before (Ac 21:39) did not necessarily imply that he was a Roman citizen.Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 22:28

• Armies
• Citizens
• Claudius Lysius
• Liberty
• Minister, Christian
• Naturalization
• Paul
• Roman Empire
• Soldiers
• Trial

In the dictionaries

• Paul
• Paul, Saul
• Citizenship
• Claudius
• Freedom
• Hence
• James
• Lysias, Claudius
• Persecute
• Scourge

Commentaries on Acts 22

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings