Paul the Roman

Paul the Roman citizen

ACTS 22 COMMENTARY ◄
Acts 22:25 Roman Scourge

Acts 22:26-30 Paul the Roman

ACTS 22:26-29 26 When the centurion heard that, he went and told the commander, saying, “Take care what you do, for this man is a Roman." 27 Then the commander came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” He said, “Yes.” 28 The commander answered, “With a large sum I obtained this citizenship.” And Paul said, “But I was born a citizen.” 29 Then immediately those who were about to examine him withdrew from him; and the commander was also afraid after he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

How did a person become a "Roman" (Acts 22:27) citizen?
Roman citizenship was originally reserved for the free residents of the city of Rome. As the Roman Empire grew, citizenship was granted to others who served the Empire in exceptional ways. During the reign of Emperor Claudius (41-54 AD), Roman citizenship could even be bought.

Why did the Roman commander volunteer to Paul, "With a large sum I obtained this citizenship" (Acts 22:28)?
Having been beaten up and almost killed by a mob, Paul most likely didn't look the part of a respected citizen of Rome. The Roman commander may have guessed that Paul must have bought his citizenship somehow on the cheap and may have been trying to put him in his place.

Why did those who were about to examine Paul "immediately" (Acts 22:29) withdraw from him?
Being "born a citizen" (Acts 22:28) of Rome was more prestigious than buying into it and also meant that Paul had at least parents and probably other family members and relatives who were (potentially powerful) Roman citizens.

Why was the Roman commander "afraid" (Acts 22:29)?
He was the one who had "ordered" (Acts 22:24, see Paul in Jerusalem and Roman Scourge) Paul to be "bound ... with thongs" (Acts 22:29), which was also illegal to do to a Roman citizen who hadn't been condemned.

ACTS 22:30 30 The next day, because he wanted to know for certain why he was accused by the Jews, he released him from his bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down and set him before them.

Where was Paul taken "the next day" (Acts 22:30)?
A Roman citizen could be held by chains. Paul was "released" (Acts 22:30) from his chains and taken from the Roman "barracks" (Acts 22:24) at Antonia Fortress "down" (Acts 22:30) to the temple area just south of it.

Whom did the Roman commander order to gather?
Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council: "he ... commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear" (Acts 22:30).

Why?
"Because he wanted to know for certain why he [Paul] was accused by the Jews" (Acts 22:30).