Acts 22:23-28

The Jews used the Roman government to carry out their religious judgements. Paul was not above using any means available to protect himself and to spread the word of the Gospel to Jew and Roman alike. He became all things to all people in order to save a few. He called upon the Roman government to protect himself from being scourged. Paul thought that he was saving himself  BUT the truth is that God used Paul’s citizenship to spread the Good News of the Gospel. Put your trust in Him!!

Scourging was used to cripple for life or to kill. 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. 

Acts 22:23-28

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.”