…Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?”
Acts 22:22-29
As Paul continued to talk to the crowd, they stopped listening to Paul and became riotous again. The Roman Tribune ordered his troop to bring Paul inside to be “examined” by flogging, a common method Rome used to deal with criminals. Note the assumption made by the Roman Tribune and his soldiers; they did not find out anything about the man they were about to “examine.” When Paul was “stretched out for the whips,” Paul asked the soldiers whether it was legal for them to treat a Roman citizen the way they were about to treat him. The centurion in charge of the soldiers ceased the “examination” and went to the Tribune to challenge him about treating a Roman citizen that way. The Tribune went to Paul to ask him directly about his citizenship. The Tribune told Paul that he had paid a great deal of money for his citizenship. Paul responded that he was a citizen by birth, a position far better than one who had paid for his citizenship. So, fear swept over the soldiers in the room, including the Tribune, for they had bound a Roman citizen, something no Roman was supposed to receive. Though Scripture does not tell us what happened afterwards, Luke continues on the next day with Paul before some council. It is evident that Paul was released from his bonds and allowed to leave the soldiers’ quarters. Paul’s Roman citizenship aided him to avoid some troubles. But, Jesus had told Paul that Paul would suffer much for his faith and the spreading of the Gospel to the Gentiles. Indeed, Paul did suffer much as Luke relates in his letter of the Acts of the Apostles. Eventually, Paul would be beheaded by the emperor Nero, an execution given only to convicted Roman citizens. Christ has told all Christians that if He suffered at the hands of unrighteous people, we, His chosen ones, should expect the same treatment from the evil that controls this world. Though our country has religious freedom in its founding documents, the world is trying to remove such protection. As this world becomes more evil, Christians, everywhere, will be persecuted. While persecution world-wide may not occur in our lifetime, Christians must be ready to give an account for their faith. Our Lord has promised that the Holy Spirit will give the words to say when the time is right.
Source: S C Ball August 3, 2023
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