Hi First Presbyterian Church,
It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-up! I hope you’re being encouraged by our daily reading of the Bible. And, just a reminder, families with kids also have the opportunity to read the Jesus Listens daily devotional provided by the Christian Education Committee.
Today is Day 192 of our one-year Bible-reading journey, and we finish reading the book of Acts this week. Some of you have had questions about the book of Acts, and, in particular, there was a question about Paul’s Roman citizenship. Why does his Roman citizenship come up in this book, and what significance does it play in his ministry?
All the way back in Acts chapter 6, we learn that Paul belonged to a group of Jews known as “the Synagogue of the Freedpersons” (6:9). This synagogue was named as such, because its members were all Jews who had been granted Roman citizenship. Paul grew up in this synagogue, which meant that his parents would have been Roman citizens. This is why Paul can say in Acts 22:28, “I was born a Roman citizen.” Roman citizenship came with great legal benefits and protections. For example, it violated a Roman citizen’s rights to be punished without receiving a legal trial. Thus, Paul reveals his Roman citizenship after he was taken into custody by a Roman tribune (a military commander in charge of a cohort of soldiers) and bound and about to be flogged (Acts 22:25). The tribune became afraid after learning that he had bound a Roman citizen, because he could face serious consequences for committing an illegal act.
It may seem that Paul revealed his Roman citizenship to avoid being flogged, but this event described in Acts chapter 22 is not the only time Paul faced punishment in Roman custody. In Acts chapter 16, Paul was arrested by a Roman magistrate in Philippi (Acts 16:20). At that time, it was only after Paul was arrested, stripped naked, beaten with rods, and spent a night in jail that he reveals his citizenship (Acts 16:37). Why didn’t Paul reveal his Roman citizenship sooner while he was in Philippi? Because the only citizenship that mattered to Paul was his citizenship in heaven (Philippians 3:20). He cared less about the rights his Roman status afforded him, and, instead, viewed his legal citizenship as a strategic tool for his mission work. That’s the main point - Paul understood that his Roman citizenship gave him a unique advantage to continue to proclaim and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
Later, in Acts chapter 25, Paul again uses his Roman citizenship to the advantage of his mission. After Paul has been arrested by the Roman tribune in Acts chapter 22, the tribune sends him away from Jerusalem and to Caesarea. The Roman governor Felix in charge of Paul there simply leaves him in prison for over two years (Acts 24:27)! Up to this point in his life, Paul had spent approximately 15 years on three separate missionary tours. After spending two years in prison, I assume Paul was very anxiously trying to figure out how he could continue his work as a missionary. So what does he do? He gets an opportunity when he finally stands trial before the governor. He’s not happy with how his trial is going, so he says, “I appeal to Caesar!” (Acts 25:11). The Roman judicial system had an appeal process in which any Roman citizen could appeal to the Emperor himself if they felt they were being judged unfairly by a local court. Why does Paul appeal to the Emperor - to claim his legal rights? No! He’s, again, using his Roman citizenship to further his ministry to Jesus!
Paul desperately wanted to get to the city of Rome to preach to the people there about the good news of Jesus (Romans 15:22-25). He saw an appeal to the Emperor as his opportunity to get to Rome, and that is exactly what happened! He is taken in Roman custody to the city of Rome, and the book of Acts end with these words, “Paul lived in Rome two whole years at his own expense and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.” He used his legal status as a means to move the mission ahead!
I love this aspect of Paul’s missionary strategy, because it’s an important lesson for all of us. Nothing else in life matters more than knowing Christ and making him known! We should use whatever advantages or privileges we possess to strategically help us to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ with greater impact and effectiveness. How can you use your position, your relationships, and your influence to make Jesus known in your life?
Peace,
Pastor Aaron