Acts 22

 The Scripture reading for today is Acts 22.  To access this Scripture, click here:

Acts 22:27-30, So the commander went over and asked Paul, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?”

“Yes, I certainly am,” Paul replied.

“I am, too,” the commander muttered, “and it cost me plenty!”

Paul answered, “But I am a citizen by birth!”

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. The next day the commander ordered the leading priests into session with the Jewish high council. He wanted to find out what the trouble was all about, so he released Paul to have him stand before them.

The scholars have mixed opinions on how being a Roman citizen in that day and time determined one's treatment by governing authorities.  Certainly, in Paul's case, it kept him from being lynched and then flogged.  In fact, the commander seems frightened when he finds out that the man he is about to whip is a Roman citizen by birth.  (I would have hated to see what they did to the non-citizens.  It was a brutal world.)

But one thing Paul could not get out of was being sent before the Jewish high council.  I'm sure the Roman commander would be relieved to give Paul to the Jewish leaders.  Let them be the ones faced with the repercussions of dealing with such a controversial figure.  What will it mean for Paul to go before the high council?  The council, also referred to as the Sanhedrin, was led by the high priest and consisted of Pharisees and Sadducees.  This group had broad authority, overseeing criminal, civil, and religious cases.  This was a group that would not be sympathetic to Paul.  Part of their role was to discern when the Messiah returned and they clearly did not think Jesus was it.  Hearing Paul preaching Jesus as Lord would be deemed blasphemous. 

Will their distain keep Paul silent or make him soften his message?  I think we can all guess that the answer is no!  Paul is resolute in what God has called him to do.  No amount of persecution, oppression, or intimidation will keep him from teaching about Jesus.  So our question for the day - what keeps us from speaking boldly about Jesus?

Let's pray...give us the courage to speak boldly about our faith in Jesus.  In your name, Amen.