Acts 22:22-30

https://www.biblestudytools.com/acts/passage/?q=acts+22:22-30

Paul the Roman Citizen

22 The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!” 23 As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, 24 the commander ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks. He directed that he be flogged and interrogated in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this. 25 As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?” 26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. “What are you going to do?” he asked. “This man is a Roman citizen.” 27 The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes, I am,” he answered. 28 Then the commander said, “I had to pay a lot of money for my citizenship.” “But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied. 29 Those who were about to interrogate him withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen, in chains. 30 The commander wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews. So the next day he released him and ordered the chief priests and all the members of the Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul and had him stand before them.

Study Notes: These will be added as I am able.

22:21, 22 These people listened intently to Paul, but the word Gentile brought out all their anger and exposed their pride. They were supposed to be a light to the Gentiles, telling them about the one true God. But they had renounced that mission by becoming separatist and exclusive. God's plan, however, would not be thwarted; the Gentiles were hearing the Good News through Jewish Christians such as Paul and Peter.

22:25-28 Paul's question stopped the centurion because, by law, a Roman citizen could not be punished until he had been proven guilty of a crime. Paul was born a Roman citizen, whereas the commander had purchased his citizenship. Buying citizenship was a common practice and a good source of income for the Roman government. Bought citizenship was considered inferior to citizenship by birth.

22:30 Paul used his times of persecution as an opportunity to witness. Even his enemies were creating a platform for him to address the entire Sanhedrin (Jewish council). If we are sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading, we will see increased opportunities to share our faith, even in the face of opposition.

Oh the value of citizenship. Paul was a citizen of the country (empire?) of his birth. It was a freely given prize, one he did not have to buy. I listened to an April 19 hearing about an illegal immigration markup bill yesterday and got angry. (Yes, it was not compassionate and shows my lagging sinfulness.) It showed how people discard their born citizenship for money or greed or "a better life" and cross illegally into ours. Paul wisely called upon his citizenship rights when he was about to be flogged. What does it mean that God knows His own? Does it mean he has bestowed upon them all the rights and privileges of citizenship with Him? And if we are truly "born again" in Christ, does that make us born citizens in the place He prepared for us? Oh my mind wonders and wanders.

Heavenly Father, forgive us when we fail to understand all that You have done for us. Help us to seek to understand You more each day. Help us grow in Your care so that we can truly love like You love us. Help us see the truth in situations and set ups. Let us discern what is right and actually act righteously. Oh Lord, when the power plays around us get so frustrating, remind us to turn to You, the source of all power. Thank You, Lord, for our birth citizenship and true freedom. In Your holy name, Jesus, Amen.

A Song: https://youtu.be/GwirdlbkUD8

Bonus Song: https://youtu.be/xAKDndEBaiA

Have a blessed day.

Acts 22:22-30

https://www.biblestudytools.com/acts/passage/?q=acts+22:22-30

Paul the Roman Citizen

22 The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!” 23 As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, 24 the commander ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks. He directed that he be flogged and interrogated in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this. 25 As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?” 26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. “What are you going to do?” he asked. “This man is a Roman citizen.” 27 The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes, I am,” he answered. 28 Then the commander said, “I had to pay a lot of money for my citizenship.” “But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied. 29 Those who were about to interrogate him withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen, in chains. 30 The commander wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews. So the next day he released him and ordered the chief priests and all the members of the Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul and had him stand before them.

Study Notes: These will be added as I am able.

22:21, 22

22:25-28 Paul's question stopped the centurion because, by law, a Roman citizen could not be punished until he had been proven guilty of a crime. Paul was born a Roman citizen, whereas the commander had purchased his citizenship. Buying citizenship was a common practice and a good source of income for the Roman government. Bought citizenship was considered inferior to citizenship by birth.

22:30 Paul used his times of persecution as an opportunity to witness. Even his enemies were creating a platform for him to address the entire Sanhedrin (Jewish council). If we are sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading, we will see increased opportunities to share our faith, even in the face of opposition.

Oh the value of citizenship. Paul was a citizen of the country (empire?) of his birth. It was a freely given prize, one he did not have to buy. I listened to an April 19 hearing about an illegal immigration markup bill yesterday and got angry. (Yes, it was not compassionate and shows my lagging sinfulness.) It showed how people discard their born citizenship for money or greed or "a better life" and cross illegally into ours. Paul wisely called upon his citizenship rights when he was about to be flogged. What does it mean that God knows His own? Does it mean he has bestowed upon them all the rights and privileges of citizenship with Him? And if we are truly "born again" in Christ, does that make us born citizens in the place He prepared for us? Oh my mind wonders and wanders.

Heavenly Father, forgive us when we fail to understand all that You have done for us. Help us to seek to understand You more each day. Help us grow in Your care so that we can truly love like You love us. Help us see the truth in situations and set ups. Let us discern what is right and actually act righteously. Oh Lord, when the power plays around us get so frustrating, remind us to turn to You, the source of all power. Thank You, Lord, for our birth citizenship and true freedom. In Your holy name, Jesus, Amen.

A Song: https://youtu.be/GwirdlbkUD8

Bonus Song: https://youtu.be/xAKDndEBaiA

Have a blessed day.

Acts 22:22-30

https://www.biblestudytools.com/acts/passage/?q=acts+22:22-30

Paul the Roman Citizen

22 The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!” 23 As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, 24 the commander ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks. He directed that he be flogged and interrogated in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this. 25 As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?” 26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. “What are you going to do?” he asked. “This man is a Roman citizen.” 27 The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes, I am,” he answered. 28 Then the commander said, “I had to pay a lot of money for my citizenship.” “But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied. 29 Those who were about to interrogate him withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen, in chains. 30 The commander wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews. So the next day he released him and ordered the chief priests and all the members of the Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul and had him stand before them.

Study Notes: These will be added as I am able.

Oh the value of citizenship. Paul was a citizen of the country (empire?) of his birth. It was a freely given prize, one he did not have to buy. I listened to an April 19 hearing about an illegal immigration markup bill yesterday and got angry. (Yes, it was not compassionate and shows my lagging sinfulness.) It showed how people discard their born citizenship for money or greed or "a better life" and cross illegally into ours. Paul wisely called upon his citizenship rights when he was about to be flogged. What does it mean that God knows His own? Does it mean he has bestowed upon them all the rights and privileges of citizenship with Him? And if we are truly "born again" in Christ, does that make us born citizens in the place He prepared for us? Oh my mind wonders and wanders.

Heavenly Father, forgive us when we fail to understand all that You have done for us. Help us to seek to understand You more each day. Help us grow in Your care so that we can truly love like You love us. Help us see the truth in situations and set ups. Let us discern what is right and actually act righteously. Oh Lord, when the power plays around us get so frustrating, remind us to turn to You, the source of all power. Thank You, Lord, for our birth citizenship and true freedom. In Your holy name, Jesus, Amen.

A Song: https://youtu.be/GwirdlbkUD8

Bonus Song: https://youtu.be/xAKDndEBaiA

Have a blessed day.