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Acts 22:22–29
“Those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him” (v. 29).
Paul defended himself against the false charges that he was violating the Jewish law by appealing to his own history of being a Jew zealous for God’s Word and of his conversion to faith in the “Righteous One.” In other words, the Apostle was saying that he could not possibly be guilty because he loved the law and had come to trust in the Jewish Messiah, the One whom the law of God so respected by the Jews revealed. As part of that conversion, Paul said, he was called to proclaim the truth of salvation to the gentiles (Acts 22:1–21).
As we see in today’s passage, those words of defense did not convince the Jewish crowd that was looking to kill the Apostle. Upon hearing that Paul had been called to minister to the gentiles, the crowd broke out in fresh demands for Paul’s death, “throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air” (vv. 22–23). Commentators note that this was likely done as a symbolic act of mourning and preparation to stone Paul. (People had to take off their outer garments so that they would not restrict their movements when they threw stones.) Thus, the crowd was showing the authorities what they wanted to see happen to Paul. Probably the Jews took the statement of Paul that he was going to the gentiles as proof that they were right to accuse him of transgressing the Jewish law. He was going to freely associate with gentiles, not restricting his contact with them as was the Jewish custom, even though the Mosaic law did not actually demand this of God’s people.
In any case, the tribune had Paul stop speaking to the Jewish crowd and brought him to the barracks, where he intended to flog Paul to get him to admit to the crime that the Jews accused him of (v. 24). A flogging was a beating with a whip that consisted of a wooden handle to which were attached strips of leather embedded with pieces of metal and bone. Before the scourging could commence, however, the Apostle appealed to his Roman citizenship (v. 25). Roman citizens had important legal rights under the imperial government, including the right to a trial. Also, it was illegal to flog Roman citizens. Authorities who violated the rights of Roman citizens could themselves be punished and often even put to death. Learning of Paul’s citizenship struck fear into the hearts of the tribune and those who were working under him, so they refrained from flogging Paul (vv. 26–29).
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
Some people in the culture look askance on Christians when they appeal to the legal rights that they possess in the country where they live. We should not, however, let this pressure us into thinking that it is somehow inherently sinful for us to exercise the rights we have before the law. Paul’s example shows us that there is a place for us to appeal to the law of the land when it is necessary to protect our legitimate interests.
For further study
- Leviticus 19:15
- Proverbs 29:7
- Acts 16:35–40
- Acts 25:10–12
The bible in a year
- Isaiah 59–61
- 1 Thessalonians 4