“The soldiers who were about to interrogate Paul quickly withdrew when they heard he was a Roman citizen, and the commander was frightened because he had ordered him bound and whipped.” 22:29

I find the timing of when Paul reveals his citizenship to be very theatrical. He’s spread out and tied down, about to be beaten and whipped, and poses a very loaded question that gets him untied just in time. Paul is a calculated man, this is not luck, but instead bold scheming.

I try not to speculate too much when I come here. God’s word speaks for itself and I just want to hold up a neon lit sign and point towards it, not try to interpret it. But I can’t help but wonder what Paul was thinking. He risks his life, beyond all reason to get to Jerusalem. He introduces himself as a Jew from Tarsus (22:3) and doesn’t reveal himself as a Roman citizen until he is directly asked (22:28).

Roman citizens, especially by birth, held a coveted and favored position. They were granted rights and privileges not extended to your average Joe. Here, we see Paul escape an interrogation and a beating because of it.

Maybe the man just knew how to read a crowd, what to reveal and when, and used his social genius to figure out the best way to deliver the gospel. Whatever his plan was, it was calculated and it worked.

–

What privilege do you daily benefit from? Your gender? Your social class? Your race?

Maybe you’re a naturally gifted writer, or a speaker.

How can you use it to advance the gospel? Or, how does it stand in your way? 

-Carly