Acts 22:28
"I paid a high price for my citizenship," said the commander. "But I was born a citizen," Paul replied.
I paid a high price for my citizenship
The phrase highlights the Roman commander's acknowledgment of the value and privilege associated with Roman citizenship. In the Roman Empire, citizenship was a coveted status that conferred numerous legal protections and rights. The Greek word for "citizenship" here is "πολίτης" (polites), which denotes a member of a city or state, emphasizing the legal and social standing it provided. Historically, Roman citizenship could be acquired through various means, including birth, military service, or purchase, as indicated by the commander's statement. The "high price" suggests the significant financial or political cost involved, reflecting the exclusivity and desirability of such a status in the ancient world.

said the commander
The "commander" refers to a Roman tribune or military officer, responsible for maintaining order and overseeing the Roman cohort in Jerusalem. His role underscores the Roman presence and authority in Judea during this period. The commander's interaction with Paul reveals the complexities of Roman governance and the importance of citizenship in legal matters. His statement also sets the stage for the contrast between his acquired citizenship and Paul's inherent status.

But I was born a citizen
Paul's response, "I was born a citizen," introduces a significant contrast to the commander's purchased status. The Greek term "γεννηθείς" (gennetheis) implies being naturally born into a status or condition. This birthright citizenship suggests that Paul's family had Roman citizenship, possibly due to services rendered to the Roman state or other historical circumstances. This claim not only establishes Paul's legal rights but also highlights the providential nature of his life and ministry. In a broader theological context, it serves as a metaphor for the believer's spiritual birthright in Christ, emphasizing the unearned grace and privileges bestowed upon those who are "born again" into the Kingdom of God.

Paul replied
Paul's reply is both a legal assertion and a personal testimony. His calm and confident declaration of his citizenship reflects his understanding of Roman law and his strategic use of his rights to further his mission. This moment in Acts underscores the Apostle's wisdom and the divine orchestration of his life circumstances, enabling him to navigate complex legal and cultural landscapes. It also serves as an inspiration for believers to be aware of and utilize their God-given rights and opportunities to advance the Gospel.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Paul
A key figure in the early Christian church, formerly known as Saul of Tarsus. He was a Roman citizen by birth, which afforded him certain legal protections and privileges.

2. The Roman Commander (Tribune)
An unnamed Roman official responsible for maintaining order. He had purchased his Roman citizenship, which was a common practice for those who were not born into it.

3. Jerusalem
The city where this event takes place. It was a central location for Jewish worship and a significant site in early Christian history.

4. Roman Citizenship
A highly valued status in the Roman Empire, granting individuals legal rights and protections. It could be acquired by birth, purchase, or as a reward for service.

5. The Arrest of Paul
This event occurs during Paul's arrest in Jerusalem, where he is being questioned by Roman authorities after a disturbance in the temple.
Teaching Points
Value of Citizenship
Earthly citizenship can provide certain rights and protections, but our ultimate allegiance is to our heavenly citizenship.

Wisdom in Navigating Authority
Paul’s use of his Roman citizenship demonstrates the importance of wisdom and discernment in dealing with earthly authorities.

God’s Sovereignty in Our Circumstances
Paul’s birth as a Roman citizen was part of God’s plan, showing how God can use our circumstances for His purposes.

Integrity and Truthfulness
Paul’s straightforward declaration of his citizenship status reflects the importance of honesty and integrity in our interactions.

Courage in Adversity
Paul’s calm and confident response in a potentially dangerous situation is an example of courage rooted in faith.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Paul’s Roman citizenship affect his ministry and interactions with authorities in Acts 22:28 and other parts of Acts?

2. In what ways can we apply the concept of dual citizenship (earthly and heavenly) in our daily lives?

3. How does Paul’s response to the Roman commander demonstrate wisdom and discernment, and how can we apply this in our interactions with authority figures?

4. What does this passage teach us about God’s sovereignty in our personal circumstances and backgrounds?

5. How can we exhibit integrity and courage in situations where our faith is challenged, as Paul did in this passage?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Philippians 3:20
Paul speaks of a higher citizenship in heaven, which contrasts with his earthly Roman citizenship.

Acts 16:37-38
Paul previously invoked his Roman citizenship to avoid unjust treatment, demonstrating the practical benefits of this status.

Romans 13:1-7
Discusses the Christian's relationship to governing authorities, which is relevant to understanding Paul's interaction with Roman officials.
Naturally and Spiritually Free BornR. Tuck Acts 22:28
Damager and DeliveranceE. Johnson Acts 22:22-29
Rescue of the Prisoner and Reference of His Cause to the Jewish SanhedrimR.A. Redford Acts 22:22-30
The Earthly and the Heavenly CitizenshipW. Clarkson Acts 22:23-30
Asserting RightsH. O. Mackey.Acts 22:24-29
Birthright Goodness and Goodness Which We Pay ForJ. Freeman Clarke.Acts 22:24-29
The Christian's BirthrightChristian AgeActs 22:24-29
The Jews, the Boman, and the ChristianJ. W. Burn.Acts 22:24-29
The Moral Cowardice of WarriorsD. Thomas, D. D.Acts 22:24-29
The Prevailing PleaChristian AgeActs 22:24-29
The Privileges of BirthJ. H. Tasson.Acts 22:24-29
People
Ananias, Gamaliel, Paul, Saul, Stephen
Places
Cilicia, Damascus, Jerusalem, Nazareth, Tarsus
Topics
Acquired, Actually, Big, Birth, Born, Bought, Captain, Chief, Chiliarch, Citizen, Citizenship, Commander, Commanding, Free, Freedom, Got, Large, Money, Myself, Obtain, Obtained, Officer, Paid, Paul, Pay, Price, Replied, Rights, Roman, Sum, Tribune
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Acts 22:28

     8820   self-confidence

Acts 22:22-29

     5219   authority, human institutions

Acts 22:25-29

     5255   citizenship

Acts 22:26-29

     5219   authority, human institutions

Acts 22:26-30

     5261   commander

Acts 22:27-28

     5108   Paul, life of
     5655   birth

Library
Rome Protects Paul
'And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the Temple, I was in a trance; 18. And saw Him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning Me. 19. And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on Thee: 20. And when the blood of Thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

Paul on his Own Conversion
'And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. 7. And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why perseoutest thou Me? 8. And I answered, Who art Thou, Lord? And He said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. 9. And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of Him that spake to me. 10. And I said,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

Being Easily Entreated
Not long since I saw in the report of a meeting a statement something like this: "The brethren were easily entreated, and so all personal difficulties were easily settled." One of the greatest problems that ministers meet and one that requires the most patience and wisdom is the problem of settling personal difficulties. These difficulties are often found existing between those professing to be Christians. And sometimes they are very hard to get settled. There is just one reason for this: those involved
Charles Wesley Naylor—Heart Talks

Some Scriptures for Daily Practise.
If we seek God earnestly in the prayer of faith to help us in our daily practise of the following Scriptural texts and then put forth our best efforts, we shall find life daily growing more holy and beautiful. The beauty and enjoyment of a holy life is that it can always be improved upon. We can live in all the light that shines upon us from these texts today, but tomorrow we find them shining a little brighter and fuller light, so that we shall have to live a little more holy than we are living
C. E. Orr—How to Live a Holy Life

What is God's Will?
"The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know His will."--ACTS xxii. 14. WE resume to-day a subject, the thread of which has been broken by the interval of a few Sabbaths--the subject of the Will of God. Already we have tried to learn two lessons:-- (1) That the end of our life is to do the will of God. (2) That this was the end of Christ's life. It will help to recall what has gone before if we compare this with another definition of the end of life with which we are all familiar.
Henry Drummond—The Ideal Life

Beyond the Brightness of the Sun
T. P. Acts xxii. 11 I was journeying in the noontide, When His light shone o'er my road; And I saw Him in that glory-- Saw Him--Jesus, Son of God. All around, in noonday splendour, Earthly scenes lay fair and bright; But my eyes no more behold them For the glory of that light. Others in the summer sunshine Wearily may journey on, I have seen a light from heaven, Past the brightness of the sun-- Light that knows no cloud, no waning, Light wherein I see His Face, All His love's uncounted treasures,
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen, Suso, and Others

Early Life the Place of Paul +The Man
STUDY I EARLY LIFE THE PLACE OF PAUL +The Man, Paul,+ judged by the influence he has exerted in the world, is one of the greatest characters in all history. He is pre-eminent not only as a missionary, but as a marvelous thinker and writer. "He was a personality of vast power, force, and individuality." There are some men who seem to be born and prepared to do a large work for the world; Paul makes the impression upon those who carefully read the record of his life that he stands first in this class
Henry T. Sell—Bible Studies in the Life of Paul

Jerusalem to Rome
Acts 21:17-28:31 THIS JOURNEY Scripture, Acts 21:17-28:31 1. The speech before the Jewish mob in the temple (Acts 22:1-29) in which Paul tells the Jews how he was changed from a persecutor to a believer in Christ. He relates also the story of his conversion. 2. The speech before the Jewish council (Acts 22:30; 23:1-10) in which he creates confusion by raising the question of the resurrection. But the provocation was great for the high-priest had commanded that Paul be smitten
Henry T. Sell—Bible Studies in the Life of Paul

Jesus the Guest of Martha and Mary.
(Bethany, Near Jerusalem.) ^C Luke X. 38-42. ^c 38 Now as they went on their way [he was journeying through Judæa, attended by the twelve], he entered into a certain village [It was the village of Bethany (John xi. 1), which was on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, less than two miles from Jerusalem]: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at the Lord's feet, and heard his word. [Sitting at the feet was the ancient
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

From Antioch to the Destruction of Jerusalem.
Acts 13-28 and all the rest of the New Testament except the epistles of John and Revelation. The Changed Situation. We have now come to a turning point in the whole situation. The center of work has shifted from Jerusalem to Antioch, the capital of the Greek province of Syria, the residence of the Roman governor of the province. We change from the study of the struggles of Christianity in the Jewish world to those it made among heathen people. We no longer study many and various persons and their
Josiah Blake Tidwell—The Bible Period by Period

Divine Calls.
"And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel; Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for Thy servant heareth."--1 Samuel iii. 10. In the narrative of which these words form part, we have a remarkable instance of a Divine call, and the manner in which it is our duty to meet it. Samuel was from a child brought to the house of the Lord; and in due time he was called to a sacred office, and made a prophet. He was called, and he forthwith answered the call. God said, "Samuel,
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VIII

Baptism, a Divinely Appointed Means of Grace.
When we inquire into the benefits and blessings which the Word of God connects with baptism, we must be careful to obtain the true sense and necessary meaning of its declarations. It is not enough to pick out an isolated passage or two, give them a sense of our own, and forthwith build on them a theory or doctrine. In this way the Holy Scriptures have been made to teach and support the gravest errors and most dangerous heresies. In this way, many persons "wrest the Scriptures to their own destruction."
G. H. Gerberding—The Way of Salvation in the Lutheran Church

Third Stage of the Roman Trial. Pilate Reluctantly Sentences Him to Crucifixion.
(Friday. Toward Sunrise.) ^A Matt. XXVII. 15-30; ^B Mark XV. 6-19; ^C Luke XXIII. 13-25; ^D John XVIII. 39-XIX 16. ^a 15 Now at the feast [the passover and unleavened bread] the governor was wont { ^b used to} release unto them ^a the multitude one prisoner, whom they would. { ^b whom they asked of him.} [No one knows when or by whom this custom was introduced, but similar customs were not unknown elsewhere, both the Greeks and Romans being wont to bestow special honor upon certain occasions by releasing
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Prodigal Son.
"And he said, A certain man had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he
William Arnot—The Parables of Our Lord

Of the Prerogatives which the Elect Shall Enjoy in Heaven.
By reason of this communion with God, the elect in heaven shall have four superexcellent prerogatives:-- 1. They shall have the kingdom of heaven for their inheritance (Matt. xxv.; 1 Pet. i. 4), and they shall be free denizens of the heavenly Jerusalem (Eph. ii. 19; Heb. xii. 22.) St. Paul, by being a free citizen of Rome (Acts xxi. 26), escaped whipping; but they who are once free citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem, shall ever be freed from the whips of eternal torments. For this freedom was bought
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

How to Make Use of Christ for Cleansing of us from Our Daily Spots.
Having spoken of the way of making use of Christ for removing the guilt of our daily transgressions, we come to speak of the way of making use of Christ, for taking away the guilt that cleaveth to the soul, through daily transgressions; "for every sin defileth the man," Matt. xv. 20; and the best are said to have their spots, and to need washing, which presupposeth filthiness and defilement, Eph. v. 27. John xiii. 8-10. Hence we are so oft called to this duty of washing and making us clean. Isa.
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

The Nature of Justification
Justification in the active sense (iustificatio, {GREEK SMALL LETTER DELTA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER KAPPA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA WITH OXIA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER OMEGA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER SIGMA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER FINAL SIGMA}) is defined by the Tridentine Council as "a translation from that state wherein man is born a child of the first Adam, to the state of grace and of the adoption of the sons of God through the second Adam,
Joseph Pohle—Grace, Actual and Habitual

The Birth of Jesus Proclaimed by Angels to the Shepherds.
(Near Bethlehem, b.c. 5.) ^C Luke II. 8-20. ^c 8 And there were shepherds in the same country [they were in the same fields from which David had been called to tend God's Israel, or flock] abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. [When the flock is too far from the village to lead it to the fold at night, these shepherds still so abide with it in the field, even in the dead of winter.] 9 And an angel of the Lord stood by them [He stood upon the earth at their side, and did
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Lord of Glory.
1 Cor. ii:8. OUR ever blessed Lord, who died for us, to whom we belong, with whom we shall be forever, is the Lord of Glory. Thus He is called in 1 Cor. ii:8, "for had they known they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory." Eternally He is this because He is "the express image of God, the brightness of His Glory" (Heb. i:3). He possessed Glory with the Father before the world was (John xvii:5). This Glory was beheld by the prophets, for we read that Isaiah "saw His Glory and spake of Him"
Arno Gaebelein—The Lord of Glory

Of Baptism.
1. Baptism defined. Its primary object. This consists of three things. 1. To attest the forgiveness of sins. 2. Passages of Scripture proving the forgiveness of sins. 3. Forgiveness not only of past but also of future sins. This no encouragement to license in sin. 4 Refutation of those who share forgiveness between Baptism and Repentance. 5 Second thing in Baptism--viz. to teach that we are ingrafted into Christ for mortification and newness of life. 6. Third thing in Baptism--viz. to teach us that
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

The Jews Make all Ready for the War; and Simon, the Son of Gioras, Falls to Plundering.
1. And thus were the disturbances of Galilee quieted, when, upon their ceasing to prosecute their civil dissensions, they betook themselves to make preparations for the war with the Romans. Now in Jerusalem the high priest Artanus, and do as many of the men of power as were not in the interest of the Romans, both repaired the walls, and made a great many warlike instruments, insomuch that in all parts of the city darts and all sorts of armor were upon the anvil. Although the multitude of the young
Flavius Josephus—The Wars of the Jews or History of the Destruction of Jerusalem

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