Acts 23:22–29

There are benefits that come from citizenship. Used properly we can use them to our advantage, always keeping in mind that ours is above all, in Christ.

In the end we represent the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

God places us where we can do the most good for His Kingdom.

It’s a simple promise: “Everyone who believes in him will have eternal life” (John 3:15 NLT). The simplicity troubles many people. We expect a more complicated cure, a more elaborate treatment. Others of us have written our own Bible verse: God helps those who help themselves. We’ll overcome our failures with hard work, thank you. We’ll find salvation the old-fashioned way: we’ll earn it. 

Christ, in contrast, says, “Your part is to trust. Trust me to do what you can’t.”

By the way, you take similar steps of trust daily, even hourly. You believe the chair will support you, so you set your weight on it. You trust the work of the light switch, so you flip it. You regularly trust power you cannot see to do a work you cannot accomplish.  Jesus invites you to do the same with him. 

Look to Jesus…and believe. Max Lucado

Acts 23:22–29

22 And they listened to him until this word, and then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he is not fit to live!” 23 Then, as they cried out and tore off their clothes and threw dust into the air, 24 the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, and said that he should be examined under scourging, so that he might know why they shouted so against him. 25 And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?” 26 When the centurion heard that, he went and told the commander, saying, “Take care what you do, for this man is a Roman.” 27 Then the commander came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” He said, “Yes.” 28 The commander answered, “With a large sum I obtained this citizenship.” And Paul said, “But I was born a citizen.” 29 Then immediately those who were about to examine him withdrew from him; and the commander was also afraid after he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him. The New King James Version

The Jews did not hate all Gentiles. In fact, they permitted God-fearing Gentiles to worship in the Court of the Gentiles. A Gentile could even become a proselyte, recognized as a Jew, by being circumcised and obeying the laws of Moses. Thus the Jews in this passage were not upset about allowing Gentiles to worship God, but at the idea that Gentiles could be on an equal footing with them before God without being proselytes. The fact that the Gentiles could come to God directly by faith in Jesus Christ was offensive to them. 

The scourge was a leather whip, studded with pieces of metal or bone, fastened to a wooden handle. Paul had been beaten before with whips and rods. But scourging was worse. The punishment was used to cripple for life or to kill. The victim endured this torture either stretched out on the floor, tied to a pillar, or tied to a hook suspended from the ceiling.

The Roman law was that no Roman citizen could be chained, scourged, or killed without a proper trial. Failure to obey this law resulted in severe punishment for the one who commanded the illegal punishment. Paul had been chained and was about to be scourged without any formal charges having been made. Originally the privileges of Roman citizenship were limited to free people living in the city of Rome. Later, citizenship was granted to others living in the Roman Empire. Sometimes the emperor would offer citizenship to those who had rendered outstanding service. Possibly Paul’s father or grandfather had became a citizen this way with the result that Paul was born a Roman. 

Ultimately God used Paul’s Roman citizenship to spread the gospel to Rome. The NKJV Study Bible

Paul’s audience reacts violently to his speech, and the Roman commander seeks to learn why the Jewish people are so upset with Paul by using torture. Paul escapes flogging by calling attention to his Roman citizenship.

 Paul’s Jewish opponents may be actually tearing their garments because they believe he is committing blasphemy or taking them off in order to kill Paul by stoning him. Paul appeals to his Roman citizenship and his judicial standing. Roman law forbade the punishment of a citizen without a trial. Paul’s citizenship is by birth, due to him being from Tarsus—a municipality of the Roman Empire that automatically granted citizenship. Faithlife Study Bible

As Paul was a Jew, in low circumstances, the Roman officer questioned how he obtained so valuable a distinction; but the apostle told him he was free born. Let us value that freedom to which all the children of God are born; which no sum of money, however large, can purchase for those who remain unregenerate. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Acts 21:36 For the multitude of the people followed after, crying out, “Away with him!”

Acts 22:29 Then immediately those who were about to examine him withdrew from him; and the commander was also afraid after he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.