https://youtu.be/sE_wcBLA93U

Civis Romanus sum

Acts 16:35-40

Paul and Silas have been beaten and thrown into prison publicly

and now are being released privately. Paul does not like this- “civis Romanus

sum!” he cries out.

The right of a Roman citizen- a Roman citizen may not be beaten

or bound by magistrate, or by any other person in any circumstance, let alone

untried and uncondemned. He would cry “Civis Romanus sum” and he would be

immune to punishment; heavy penalties were prescribed for those who violated these

citizenship privileges. v. 37

Therefore, the jailers feared and publicly escorted them out of

prison.

Paul

said unto them, the officers who were sent to the prison with

the message about their liberty. Paul was a citizen by birth his father having

probably been wealthy enough to buy this right, which brought with it

commercial as well as personal privileges.

They

have beaten us; the magistrates, who commanded them to be

beaten, are justly charged with the beating of them, as if they had themselves

done it. Openly; they had openly

scourged them.

Uncondemned;

for they were not tried, or permitted to speak for themselves.

Being

Romans; having the privilege of Roman citizens, which was sometimes

given to whole communities. Now such by their laws might not be bound, much

less beaten, (and least of all uncondemned), without the consent of the Romans.

Let them come themselves and fetch us out; this the apostle stands upon, not so much for his own, as for the gospel’s sake, that it might not be spread abroad, that these preachers  were wicked and vile men, and did deserve such punishment. 

The fact that the public disgrace to which they had been

subjected would seriously impede the acceptance of the Gospel message, and

perhaps raise a prejudice to the injury of his new Philippian converts-  (remember the household of Lydia, the jailer

and all his family)

In the region which he now for the first time visited,

it might have created the opinion that he was one of a wicked life, and this

would have been a reproach to Christianity and raise a prejudice in the way of

the spreading of the Gospel

At first glance, it appears as if Paul is concerned with his

honor. But, this is not the character or actions of Paul.

Philippians 3:8 New King James Version (NKJV)

8 Yet indeed I

also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ

Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them

as rubbish, that I may gain Christ

1 Thes 2:1-12

(news travels fast)

Paul’s name, character, and influence belong solely to Jesus and His church.

What does it mean to you?

1.You are among wolves

Matthew

10:16 New King James Version (NKJV)

16 “Behold, I send you out as

sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless[a] as

doves.

Paul is experiencing the fulfillment of Jesus’ words to his

disciples: “I send you forth as sheep among wolves”

I am not sure if you realize this yet or not, but this world

always has been and is increasingly hostile to those who follow Jesus.