Paul is testifying to the rioting Jews of Jerusalem from the Roman cohort’s barracks for his own protection – and for that of the cohort soldiers themselves! He has just described Jesus’ strong verbal charge sending him to the Gentiles:
“Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, ‘Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live’” (Ac 22:22).
The rioters, now stained by mention of the Gentiles, are enraged again, and they lose all control once more:
“And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, the tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, saying that he should be examined by flogging, to find out why they were shouting against him like this” (Ac 22:23-24).
Are not the rioters breaking the law? So how is it that a man legally innocent until proven guilty is about to be flogged, while the real lawbreakers go free? Because the Romans defer favors to Jewish leaders to help keep the overall peace, Caesar's pax Romana.
“But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, ‘Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?’ When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and said to him, ‘What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.’ So the tribune came to him and said, ‘Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?’ And he replied, ‘Yes’” (Ac 22:25-27).
Paul is a genius. Had he screamed the truth in panic when they first proclaimed flogging him, he might have been ignored by seeming to be guilty. But instead, Paul calmly waits until all the elements of torture are in place, and then says, in effect, “Oh, by the way…do you make a habit of whipping your own people?”
There is a lesson here for growing in perfect unity with the Lord in the face of persecution: when faced with opposition by unbelievers, it is best to withdraw into our spirits and paradoxically seek the peace of the Holy Spirit, who is likely whispering what we should do. Instead of visible panic that might inflame the opponents even more, we should be calm, serene, and listening, perhaps even offering a look of love – God’s love. We could very easily end up with a positive personal relationship with the one ready to harm you:
“The tribune answered, ‘I bought this citizenship for a large sum.’ Paul said, ‘But I am a citizen by birth.’ So 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. But on the next day, desiring to know the real reason why he was being accused by the Jews, he unbound him and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them” (Ac 22:28-30).
Is the tribune seeking to deflect the seriousness of what he has done so that he can think up a diversion, or is he perhaps suggesting a bribe may be in order? We do not know, but we do know that Paul trumps the tribune’s claim, saying that all the money in the world does not rank as high as a free-born citizen by birth!
Things happen fast once this quick negotiation plays out. Paul needs the security of the tribune and the tribune needs a favor from Paul to not be accused of a capital crime himself.
Still listening to the Holy Spirit, Paul likely realizes that, by not demanding to be released immediately, God is going to give him an opportunity to preach the gospel of Jesus to a very large – and dusty – audience.
Unity with God is a full-time commitment.
We never know when we will be called upon to serve in an unexpected, perhaps dangerous, way.
Hurry back for Paul’s speech to the men of Jerusalem!