Paul: A Citizen of the Roman Empire

Introduction

Turn to Acts 16:35-38.

Paul is a familiar character of the Bible - probably the most familiar of the New Testament and largely because the book of Acts devotes so many pages to his ministry. We know him today through various titles and works that described him. To us...

He was Paul the Apostle.

He was Paul the missionary.

He was Paul the slave of Jesus Christ.

For several months in our Wednesday Bible studies we saw him as Paul, the prayer warrior.

In his later years, he was Paul the prisoner of Jesus Christ.

But today we are going to look at Paul’s life through a different lens and that is Paul: a Citizen of the Roman Empire.

Now, as you read through Paul’s New Testament letters, there is no doubt that he considered himself a citizen of Heaven. He was a sojourner on this earth and he was ready and looking forward to eternity.

Philippians 1:21-23 “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:”

Philippians 3:20 “For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:”

Colossians 3:1-2 “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”

Perhaps more than any of us, Paul knew that life on earth was temporary and that his focus must be on eternity. His eternal focus raises several questions that are important for us to consider today.

For example: does the New Testament indicate that Paul valued his Roman citizenship? Or, in light of his focus on eternity, did he consider his citizenship a worthless paper certificate of a human government? Some Christians, by their words and actions seem to take this position.

Specifically, they might belittle their earthly citizenship. Or, they refuse to vote or be politically involved because such activities have no eternal value, they say.

Did Paul ever use his rights as a Roman? If so, how did he do it, and why?

Finally, what can we learn from Paul’s example? Are we permitted at times to graciously stand for our rights when necessary, or does being a Christian mean we have no rights when interacting with others?

In answer to the questions I’ve proposed, we’ll see three ways that Paul used his Roman citizenship.

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Paul used his citizenship to appeal for his lawful rights - Acts 16:35-38

Acts chapter sixteen tells us about Paul and Silas’ ministry in the city of Philippi.

verse 16-18 - a young woman possessed by a spirit was following Paul and Silas around, declaring that they were the servants of God and no doubt causing confusion among the people. 2 Corinthians 6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial?

verse 19-21 - her masters catch Paul and Silas, drag them into the public marketplace, and accuse them before the city magistrates. Notice the big error that these Philippians make - verse 20 - “these men, being Jews” and verse 21 - “being Romans.”

verse 22-25 - a riot ensues and the magistrates are caught up in the moment. No questioning. No trial. No opportunity for Paul and Silas to speak. Their clothes are torn from their bodies and they are whipped without mercy. They are imprisoned and their feet are placed in stocks. Despite all of this, despite the injustice of it all, at midnight they are found praising God. I love their attitude!

verses 26-34 - God sends an earthquake, the jailor is saved, Paul and Silas go to his house, and in the morning, the magistrates send officers with a message: those men are free. They may go.

Of course they are free! There wasn’t a working jail to put them in! It had been rendered useless by the earthquake. But notice what Paul has the audacity to do: he tells them “nay verily! No way! By no means!” He’s emphatic. They’re not leaving unless the magistrates come and beg them to leave.

Keep in mind, the magistrates assumed that because Paul and Silas were Jewish, they were not Roman citizens

They had not been offered a fair trial

They had been publicly beaten

They had been placed in prison

Paul sizes all of this up and says, “No, they have broken every rule in the rulebook. Tell the magistrates to come get us themselves.” Notice the magistrates’ response in verses 38-39.

“Besought” - to beg, to entreat, to beseech, to strive to appease by entreaty

If news got back to Rome of what had happened, the consequences against the magistrates and against the city would have been immense, but what is interesting about this narrative is that Paul stood for his rights even after they had already been violated. In that Empire, rights were something granted and rescinded by government, but Paul took the opportunity to exercise his rights under Roman law. It almost seems like too little, too late, but Paul boldly said something anyway. Perhaps he did it to make the magistrates think twice about persecuting the new Christians in that city. I think he did this so that he could preach the Gospel without fear of more persecution. Whatever motivated Paul to do this, it had an effect on the rulers, who quickly came themselves and humbly asked the preachers to leave the city.

Application: Paul’s example indicates that Christians are permitted to exercise their God-given rights.

This is important because some Christians interpret Matthew 5:39 as a command from Jesus to give up all of our rights.

Matthew 5:39 KJV 1900

39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

If that is what Jesus meant, then Paul lived in violation of this verse. He had a real life situation where, far from turning the other cheek, he drew a line in the sand and dared the Philippians rulers to cross it. He wasn’t disrespectful, but he made sure they knew that if news of this injustice got out, they were in big trouble with Rome.

Not only did Paul use his citizenship to appeal for his lawful rights...

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Paul used his citizenship to avoid persecution - Acts 22:22-26.

If you have read ahead in the book of Acts, you know that “Paul the apostle” and “persecution” are two closely correlated ideas. In fact, sometime before his public ministry began, Paul learned that he would suffer greatly as an apostle. We know this because while Paul waited in Damascus, the Lord sent Ananias to him.

Acts 9:15–16 KJV 1900

15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

After meeting Ananias, Paul is soon found preaching the Gospel in Damascus. The Bible says that he confounded the Jews, proving that Jesus was the Messiah. But what happens next?

Acts 9:23 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:

Paul escapes and travels to Jerusalem and there he boldly preaches in the name of Jesus. But the Jews go about to slay him, so Paul quietly disappears to his hometown, Tarsus.

Eventually, Paul would face the hardest years of his ministry as he and Barnabas embarked on their first missionary journey in Acts chapter thirteen. Throughout the rest of the book of Acts, it seems with the turn of every page, Paul faced some new hazard on his life.

Multiple times in Scripture, you’ll find that Paul testified of the suffering that he endured as he preached the Gospel, but you’ll also notice something else: he avoided persecution when he could.

In Acts 22:25, Paul protected himself by using his Roman citizenship. Far from being a onetime circumstance, fleeing persecution was a normal part of Paul’s life. Nine instances may be found wherein he escaped bodily harm or death - Ac 9:29-30; 14:5-6; 16:38-39; 17:5-10, 13; 19:9; 20:3; 22:25; 23:17. He was willing to know the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings so that he could know Christ better, but he never went out and looked for suffering either.

Here we find that Paul is about to be whipped possibly to death, and as the soldier prepare to do their work, Paul stops the entire process by asking a pointed question of the centurion. “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?” Paul was not asking out of mere curiosity. He was giving a wake up call to this centurion that he was about to violate Roman law by scourging a Roman citizen without trial. The officer rushes to his superior with a grave warning: “Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman.”

Quickly the Roman tribune came. Quickly, Paul’s hands were loosed. And quickly, the tribune was afraid because he had bound and nearly whipped to death a Roman citizen.

Application: Notice how Paul used his citizenship. He did not get angry. He did not parade around and wave his citizenship card in the centurion’s face and say, “I have my rights! I have my rights!” He did not tell the centurion off. He did not even accuse the man. Attitude and approach is critical. If you ever invoke your rights with a defiant and disrespectful attitude towards civil authority, you are acting contrary to Scripture. Your rights are not a license to disrespect civil authority!

Proverbs 24:21 “My son, fear thou the Lord and the king: And meddle not with them that are given to change:”

1 Peter 2:17 “Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.”

Romans 13:7 “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.”

Paul used his citizenship to appeal for his lawful rights, he used his citizenship to avoid persecution, and thirdly...

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Paul used his citizenship to appeal for justice - Acts 25:10-11.

One of the benefits of being a Roman was the legal right to appeal to the highest courtroom in the Empire - Caesar’s. Standing before the judgment seat of Festus, the governor, Scripture gives us one final record of Paul appealing for his rights - the right for justice.

Paul did not think that his Roman citizenship was merely a shield to hide behind. Rather, it was a tool that he could use in the Gospel ministry.

What we see for certain is that Paul never became a fatalist and encouraged persecution. He considered himself the slave of Jesus Christ, but he never categorically denied himself the rights that were his despite living in an authoritarian government.

Application: Paul used his citizenship to appeal for justice and fair trial. God gave mankind the authority to self-rule for that very purpose: so that justice would be done on earth. I am certain of this: the more Christians that are involved in their self-government, the more likely that justice will prevail in our land.

Proverbs 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: But when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

Conclusion:

We have known him as Paul the Apostle.

We have known him as Paul the missionary.

We have known him as Paul the slave of Jesus Christ.

We have known him as Paul the prayer warrior and the prisoner of Jesus Christ.

But this morning we would do well to add one more to our understanding of this man. He was Paul: a citizen of the Roman Empire.

In his example we find the balance that is desperately needed in Christianity this hour. Like Paul, let us esteem others better than ourselves. Let us love our enemies. And let us do good to them that hate us. But like Paul, let us recognize today while we have no rights before God, we do have rights before each other because we are all made in the image of God. Christian, like Paul, exercise those rights with grace. Don’t flaunt them. Don’t use them for personal interests. Use them wisely and for the glory of God. And always, always be willing to lay them aside as our Savior leads. That is the example left for us by Paul: a citizen of the Roman Empire.