WELCOME TO FELLOWSHIP PRAYER REQUESTS PRAYER TEAM Medical Team (April 18-25, 2020) Unhindered The Gospel to the Ends of the Earth Resources "CITIZENSHIP" (Acts 21:40-22:29) "ROMAN CITIZENSHIP" (Mark Reasoner) "A WITNESS WORTH HEARING" (Acts 21:40-22:29) (Acts 15:1-4) (Chuck Swindoll) (Lynn Cohick) Roman citizenship was a matter of considerable advantage for travel in the Mediterranean world Roman citizens possessed several specific rights and privileges. Among them was of the first century. Paul's Roman citizenship greatly enhanced his ministry. His acquaintance with the Paul believed evangelism to be his sole purpose for living, so he viewed every circumstance as issues of citizenship allowed him to use it as a fitting metaphor for participation in the kingdom of that of conubium, the right to enter a licit Roman marriage, which gave their offspring the an opportunity to be a witness or to create more opportunities for witnessing. When a mob tried to kill God. rank of Roman citizens and claim to their father's estate. Roman citizens had the right both him and a contingent of Roman soldiers carried him to safety, he saw another opportunity to testify. His example highlights three principles worth remembering. to own and sell property outright, the jus commercii, and to access the Roman courts. Roman Citizenship. While both women and men enjoyed these privileges, the latter benefited from the The biblical case for Paul's legal standing as a Roman citizen rests primarily on three texts in Acts. First, a factually based personal testimony is unanswerable; internal experience alone is questionable. The most compelling case for Christianity is a personal testimony. It follows a simple additional rights of voting, joining the Roman legion, and holding public office. Paul's mention of the Roman citizenship he and Silas enjoyed provides the context for their release from jail in Philippi (Acts 16:37-39). Then at the end of his speech before the people in Jerusalem, outline: These basic rights of citizenship did not change over time; what changed was the Paul's citizenship is once again helpful in allowing for his protection by the Roman garrison from the 1. Before Christ criteria for inclusion on the citizen registry. Initially, the city of Rome granted all privileges angry crowd (Acts 22:25-29). At his hearing in Caesarea before Festus over two years later, after Festus 2. Encounter with Christ of citizenship to male Patricians, wealthy, free-born landowners. Free-born men who offered to conduct a full trial back in Jerusalem, Paul used his right as a Roman citizen to reject the 3. After Christ belonged to the lower class of the Plebeians, and women in both categories, also enjoyed offer and to appeal for trial before Caesar (Acts 25:7-12). Agrippa II mentions this appeal to Festus No one can argue with your personal experience. Subjective experience alone, however, doesn't the rights of conubium and commercium. after Paul testifies before them (Acts 26:32). convince others to believe. Paul laced his personal testimony with verifiable facts. He highlighted the For most of the history of the Roman Republic, only Roman citizens could serve in the Paul's Roman Citizenship. Arguments advanced against Paul's Roman citizenship, most recently parts of his life that many had observed before his salvation, during his experience with Christ on the legions. As Rome's influence stretched across Italy and Latin tribes were given the by Stegemann, have been soundly answered by Hengel. Roman historians also accept Paul's road to Damascus, and then after. And he referred to objective witnesses the audience could respect and trust. franchise (often as a group), the need for more troops grew. As a result, first Italians and citizenship as most probable. According to traditions preserved in Jerome (Philemon commentary; Vir. then free men from free cities within the provinces were admitted to the legions, after first 5) and Phodus (Quaest. Amphil. 116), Paul's parents were carried off as prisoners of war from the So if you're going to prepare a testimony, think through the wording. In fact, write it down and Judean town of Gischala to Tarsus. Presumably enslaved to a Roman, they were freed and granted limit it to two pages. Include only relevant details that others have observed and could affirm. Read it being given Roman citizenship. Julius Caesar began an aggressive program of offering citizenship. The rights of a Roman citizenship included provocatio (the right to appeal after trial), through a few times, not to memorize it, but to become comfortable with what you would like to say. Roman citizenship status to certain regions within the growing boundaries of Rome's muneris publici vacatio (exemption from imperial duties such as military service), and the right of an Then let the opportunities and the Holy Spirit be your guide as you testify from the heart. influence. Augustus and subsequent emperors continued this trend in varying degrees. accused citizen to choose either a local or a Roman trial. A right that was usually (but not always) Second, humility is one thing; indignity is something entirely different. When the soldiers Those in the auxiliary forces were granted citizenship after completing their obligation of honored in the provinces was that Roman citizens were exempt from flogging. The best explanation stretched out Paul for an unjust whipping, he looked into the face of the officer and declared his twenty-five years of service. Under the for Paul's silence about his Roman citizenship in Philippi until after his scourging (Acts 16:22-23) is that citizenship in order to avoid unnecessary suffering. In Philippi, Paul had taken his undeserved beating emperor CIaudius, the grant was he wanted to followScholarly Jesus in suffering (Phil 3:10-11; Col 1:24; 2 Cor 4:7- 10; 6:4-10). It is likely that because it servedPractical his purpose. He had used the illegal punishment as leverage to secure greater safety extendedBackground to the soldier's wife, there were other occasions also in which Paul kept silent and so surrendered this Roman right (2 Cor for the church in Philippi. In Jerusalem, however, his suffering would serve no constructive purpose, so he put children, and descendants 11:25). When Paul did claim Roman citizenship (Acts 16:3,7; 22:25-28), an end to it. retroactively. it is most likely that he produced as evidence a birth certificate or certificate of citizenship, which Roman citizens carried with them. A strange trend in Christian teaching has twisted the A slave, male or female, owned by Paul's Appeal to Caesar. Against Lyall and Sherwin-White, the doctrine of submission into something grotesque and a Roman citizen was usually granted tragically unlike anything Jesus taught. It's the idea that evidence favors Garnsey's reconstruction of Paul's appeal not as a citizenship upon his or her Christians should submit to any kind of abuse that happens provocatio appeal, but as a rejection of one court in favor of another to come their way. Consequently wives endure battering manumission. Once freed, these new (reiectio). This was a right Paul had as a Roman citizen, subject to while churches shout, "Submit!" Children suffer bizarre citizens could form licit marriages and Festus's approval. Garnsey notes that Acts 25 is the only example ever forms of neglect and mistreatment in the name of their children were recognized as cited for evidence of provocatio before trial. Elsewhere such an appeal submission and discipline. Christians everywhere seem to citizens. If either the mother or the always occurs after trial. A close reading of Acts 25:9-12 shows that believe that accepting abuse and humiliation is part and father was a Roman citizen, but the what is at issue is the location for Paul's trial. Paul did not want to be parcel of the Christian life and, therefore, that they should other was not, then the marriage was tried in Jerusalem as Festus suggested; for it was there that he was first take their beatings when they could otherwise avoid injustice. But that's not biblical teaching. not considered licit under Roman civil imprisoned because of Jewish antipathy (Acts 22:22-29) and because it was clear that Festus wanted to please the Jews (Acts 25:9). It is also clear that Paul's rejection of trial in Jerusalem for trial in Rome was not The remaining chapters of Acts are devoted to Paul's defense. And in this first of six defense speeches, Paul presents himself as a faithful Jew obedient to God. The charge that he has betrayed “our people and our law and this place” (21:28) is groundless. David Garland Questions for WITNESSES Can traditionalism distort the genuine tradition? How can I take advantage of opportunities to share the gospel? Is my life a benefit or hindrance whenActs I share the22 gospel? Should I always turn the other cheek? This is, of course, the second time that Luke has given his readers an account of Paul's conversion. Previously he gave it in his own words, at this time (and the third time before King Agrippa) he gave it in Paul’s words. In each case the outline is the same, but the particular emphasis of each testimony is well fitted to its context. John Stott Paul’s Conversion Acts 9:1-16 Acts 22:1-21 Acts 25:1-29 Luke’s Narrative Paul’s Testimony Paul’s Testimony Third Person First Person First Person Baptism Baptism No Baptism Jewish Audience Gentile Audience Simple Intense Reasoned Mount of Olives Antonian Fortress CONNECTION Use your current life situation as an opportunity to share Christ with others.