Acts 19:1-10
The Holy Spirit is a Person
Acts 19:11-20
Miracles Performed by Paul for Authentication
Acts 19:17-22
Beware of Cult Practices
Acts 19:21-41
Results of Religious Greed
Acts 20:1-12
Paul’s Journey to Troas
Acts 20:7-12
When, Where, How & How Long to Worship
Acts 20:13-24
Paul–An Example of Faithfulness
Acts 20:22-24
Paul’s Determination To Go To Jerusalem
Acts 20:25-38
Paul’s Warning to the Ephesian Elders
Acts 20:32-38
Paul Shares About Giving
Acts 21:1-9
Paul Warned By the Christians
Acts 21:10-16
Paul’s Determination despite Warning
Acts 21:17-26
Paul arrives in Jerusalem
Acts 21:27-40
Boldness at the Barracks
Acts 21:37-40
Boldness At the Barracks
Acts 22:1-5
Paul’s Defense of His Heritage and Ministry
Acts 22:6-16
Paul’s Salvation Testimony
Acts 22:17-30
Paul - A Roman Citizen
Acts 22:22-30
Paul–A Roman Citizen
Acts 23:1-11
Comfort in Times of Trial
Acts 23:6-11
Comfort In Times of Trial
Acts 23:12-22
A Plot to Kill Paul
Acts 23:23-35
God’s Timing is Very Evident to Paul
Acts 24:1-16
Paul’s Reaction to Charges
Acts 24:10-21
Paul’s Defense Before Felix
Acts 24:17-27
Concern from Paul’s Friends & Foes
Acts 25:1-12
Paul’s Trial before Festus and his Appeal to Caesar
Acts 25:8-12
Paul’s Appeal to Caesar’s Roman Courtroom
Paul - A Roman Citizen
Acts 22:17–30
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
In olden times the words “I am a Roman citizen” protected any man when he uttered them, whether on the banks of the Euphrates or on those of the storied Rhine, whether on the plains of Persia or in the mountains of Spain. Why, in that ancient day to be a Roman was gre … More
Paul traveled to Arabia after his conversion. When he returned to Damascus, he faced opposition, escaped from his enemies, and made a brief visit to Jerusalem. Paul might have skipped this next part if his own personal safety was his main concern. Instead, he told how he had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple enclosure. He fell into a trance (v. 17), and the Lord said to him, “Hurry and leave Jerusalem! The people won’t listen to what you say about me” (v. 18). Like Steven before him, Paul had been witnessing to the Hellenistic Jews who grew to hate him (vv. 19-20). The crowd listened with interest until he mentioned the Gentiles (v. 21). To the Jews, Gentiles were as good as dogs. Paul’s words enraged them (v. 22). They started shouting, “Get rid of this man! He doesn’t deserve to live.” If not for the paved courtyard, Paul might have been stoned then and there. In God’s providence, there were no rocks available for throwing. Instead, the people expressed their rage by tearing their garments and throwing dust in the air (v. 23).
The Roman soldiers had not been able to follow along in the unfamiliar language. When the crowd changed from listening to enraged, they grabbed Paul and took him into the barracks (v. 24). As they prepared to examine him by flogging, Paul spoke up. There is a time for believer to claim their civil rights. We should be willing to suffer for the cause of Christ, but there is no virtue in suffering merely for suffering’s sake. Paul produced his Roman citizenship (vv. 25-27). To scourge an uncondemned Roman citizen was serious business. Roman citizenship was an elite status within the empire. It cost roughly $50,000 in today’s money to purchase a Roman citizenship (v. 28). Paul likely got his citizenship from his father or grandfather. The soldiers were sill curious why Paul, a Jew, as so hated by his fellow Jews (v. 29). They released him but ordered the Sanhedrin to hold a special session to straighten things out (v. 30).
Application
What rights do I have as a citizen of this country in which I was born and live? More important than this, what rights do I have as a citizen of heaven?
Acts 22:17-30 (English Standard Version)
Warning: MagpieRSS: Failed to parse RSS file. (Space required at line 39, column 24) in /var/www/html/familytimes/includes/magpie6-1/rss_fetch.inc on line 230
Warning: array_slice() expects parameter 1 to be array, null given in /var/www/html/familytimes/includes/rss/esvLookup.php on line 15
View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway) »