Acts 22:22-29

Summary retelling of Acts 22:22-29

               

Once Paul starts talking about the Gentiles, the crowd would not listen to Paul any further.  The military leader ordered Paul to be brought back into the barracks and away from the crowd.  The military leader planned to examine Paul by flogging him. However, as Paul was about to be flogged he mentioned that he was a Roman citizen.  The soldier who was about to flog Paul went back to the military leader and told him that Paul was a Roman.  The military leader goes to talk to Paul and discloses that he had to pay for his citizenship.  Paul tells the military leader that he was born a Roman citizen.  Immediately Paul is treated with a bit more respect and is no longer in any danger of being flogged.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

The Jews in Jerusalem still want nothing to do with Gentiles.  So long as Paul was talking about Judaism, they were willing to listen to Paul.  But once Paul began to hint that God could possibly work among the Gentiles the crowd interpreted it as proof that Paul was wrong.  Because they were so opinionated and convinced that they absolutely knew the mind of God, the crowd completely misses out on what God is doing in the world.

When it is good for us to step out and act boldly on what we believe God to be calling us to do?  When is it dangerous to be bold?  What are the dangers of assuming we know God’s plans?

Second Thought:

Paul is spared a flogging because he is a Roman citizen.  In those days, it was illegal to beat a Roman citizen without extremely good proof – although they could certainly be imprisoned.  It is interesting to note that among the Jews, it is actually his citizenship to Rome that spares him from abuse.  God can indeed use anything to further His plan!

Are you surprised that God would use Paul’s Roman citizenship to spare him at this point in the story?  Does this story help broaden your perspective on what God can use?

Third Thought:

Paul’s citizenship is natural.  The military leader’s citizenship is bought.  The military leader needs to back off and respect Paul’s position.  As a person who bought (or more likely bribed) his way into citizenry, Paul was ahead of him in the pecking order.  Paul may have been the captive, but if they mistreat Paul unjustifiably, Paul could be the undoing of the military leader and any of the soldiers who lay a hand on him.  In one simple sentence, Paul had earned a necessary respect from the Roman soldiers.

What are some things that you respect in other people?  Why do you respect these things?  Are there things in your life that you should respect but don’t?  How can you learn to respect other things?

Passage for Tomorrow: Acts 22:30-23:5