The quest for the historical paul biblical archaeology. Roman citizenship could be obtained by one of several means, the most preferred of which was by inheriting it. As such, we are in one sense pilgrims and sojourners in this world 1pe 2. Once he found out that paul was a roman, he treated him virtually as an equal. Ananias shows up in caesarea with a fancy lawyer, tertullus, who begins by flattering felix and then listing false charges against paul. Why was the story of tabitha added in the book of acts.
And of course he is referring to paul and silas, who were imprisoned, and an. The historian tom holland, in his book rubicon, wrote that the right to vote was a sign of a persons success. The book of acts and paul in roman custody by brian rapske. Paul the roman citizen the crowd listened to paul until he said this. Other options including buying citizenship see acts 22. Acts records that paul was a roman citizena privilege he used a number of times in his defence, appealing convictions in judea to rome acts 22. After reading the book of acts it seems to me at least that paul was well aware of roman laws concerning the rights and privileges of being a roman citizen. We are fellow citizens with the saints and members of gods family ep 2. Paul was a free born hebrew that had roman citizenship.
A person could become a roman citizen by either birth or buying the privilege. Pauls experiences at philippi as recorded in acts 16 and at jerusalem in acts 22 and 23 are especially instructive. Scholars agree about pauls jewish background and identity, but some dispute his roman citizenship. How can paul be a hebrew and a roman citizen at the same time. End notes bsf study questions acts lesson 25, day 3. We know that pauls sisters son was in jerusalem after pauls conversion acts 23. Unfortunately, the book ends before he gets to caesarbecause pauls story isnt the point of acts. Posts about privileges of roman citizenship written by atozmom. He was chained in a common holding cell in philippi acts 16. Of course its pauls roman citizenship that originally saves his life in acts 22 where the centurion brings paul to the commander after he had flogged him. None of the pauline letters mention that paul is a roman citizen, but the book of acts claims twice that he is acts 16. Against verres cicero, part i part ii books 12 loeb classical library, 1928. The book of acts indicates that paul the apostle was a roman citizen by birth though not clearly specifying which class of citizenship a fact which had considerable bearing on pauls career and on the way he shaped the new religion of christianity.
Were in acts chapter 22, and well pick up with verse 25. Paternoster, 1977 the roman citizenship sherwinwhite, 2d ed. Clarendon press, 1973 the book of acts and paul in roman custody brian m. And as paul was to be led into the castle, he said. Although a jew, his birth in the city grants him citizenship. Why does the bible specify that paul was a roman citizen. Its so amazing how god had pauls life planned so that he would be a roman citizen in a time when being a roman citizen saved your life. These names may have something to do with that honorable citizenship which was an heirloom in the household.
In verse 9, festus was ready to send paul to jerusalem as a favor to the jews, when paul invoked his right as a roman citizen to appeal to caesar. Thats the easiest way to have been a roman citizen be born of a citizen, or a freedman. Unlike many of us in modern times who have a citizenship linked to our country, roman citizenship was not automatic. The book of acts indicates that paul was a roman citizen by birth, but helmut koester takes issue with. He set paul before the sanhedrin as if he were a man of sufficient rank to address such a body. The whole episode began with a hasty and inaccurate conclusion, drawn by men who were looking for an excuse to be rid of paul.
This is our understanding the scriptures segment, and were in the book of acts, were in acts 16 and we can pick up with verse 35, and when it was day, the magistrates sent the sergeants, saying, let those men go. And explain how pauls citizenship saved paul pain and suffering. Paul and roman citizenship in the book of acts tribs. Even in the book of acts, paul avoids boasting except when compelled. Second, paul is protected from an angry crowd by the roman guard in acts 22. Multiple times in the book of acts, luke tells us that paul held roman citizenship acts 16. While it is a major issue in acts, there is no reference to it in his letters. It was the heaviest of all the charges brought by cicero against verres, the governor of sicily, that he had broken this law. The apostle pauls exercise of his rights as a roman. On receiving a report that paul was a roman citizen and then making personal inquiry, claudius is afraid of having violated the rights of a roman by having him bound see roman citizenship below. He obtained his roman citizenship by purchase, and was therefore probably a greek. How did the apostle paul obtain his roman citizenship.
What is the story of saul of tarsus before he became the. Paul was likely born between the years of 5 bc and 5 ad. Pauls birth in a jewish family occurred in the city of tarsus within the province of. Paul leveraged his roman citizenship to demand caesar himself hear his case acts 25. Facinus est vinciri civem romanum, scelus verberari cic. This is important because not every hebrew in rome had citizenship status. The black apostle to the gentiles black history in. It is quite possible that saul was present for the trial of stephen a trial that resulted in stephen becoming the first christian martyr acts 7. What were the benefits of being a roman citizen in the. Roman law holman bible dictionary bible dictionary. The argument isnt very strong from silence and since paul doesnt attach very much significance to roman citizenship. Among those whom paul calls his kinsmen in the epistle to the church at rome, two of the number, junia and lucius, have roman names, while the others are greek romans 16.
Read the fulltext online edition of the book of acts and paul in roman custody 1994. This is due to tarsus designation as a free city by rome. This gave him unique opportunities and protections while spreading the gospel. He spoke to him in a familiar manner about how he himself obtained the privilege of roman citizenship. In the latter passage, paul states that he was born a roman citizen. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. But, what ultimately saves his life is his obedience to god. Doing this would give him persay brownie points with the jews, which in the long run is beneficial to him as a ruler. Our idea of citizenship resembles roman citizenship, except being a roman citizen was a mark of social status and nobility. This is not unusual since he often did not insist on his rights as a roman citizen in acts, there is no real reason to bring it up in a letter to a church.
The article covers all of pauls entanglement with roman law in the book of acts and explained 1 how he acquired and used his citizenship for his advantage, 2 how different roman cities have variations in judicial avenues because of local vs. The case for pauls roman citizenship is primarily made on three texts in acts. There are objectives raised to pauls citizenship by those who tend to be more skeptical about acts. And as they bound him with thongs, paul said unto the centurion that stood by, is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a roman, and uncondemned.
Paul defends himself by denying all charges except for following christ and believing in christs resurrection. When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, take heed what thou doest. Roman citizenship the book of acts depicts paul as a roman citizen from birth acts 22. They say that paul never mentioned his citizenship. Part of claudius investigation procedure to find out more information was to stretch out the detained for whips and flog them. Paul is the only apostle who is specifically stated to be a roman citizen. How did authorities know that paul was really a roman citizen. After being arrested, it is during a conversation with the chief captain that we learn quite a bit about paul.
Paul had gone to the temple, along with four other jews, at the suggestion of the elders of the jerusalem church acts 21. Paul experienced a wide variety of roman prison conditions. Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which i make now unto you. Paul and roman citizenship in the book of acts leave a reply there has been a lot of discussion lately about how god expects his people to interact with what the historical protestant church has referred to as the civil magistrate. Claudius desires to arrive at the truth concerning the jewish case against paul, and commands the sanhedrin to assemble. As paul was concluding his worship, he was seen in the temple by some asian jews 21. Roman citizenship in the ancient world and its importance for understanding acts 22. Paul raised her from the dead just like jesus raised jairus. Tf paul frequently invokes his roman citizenship to get out of jail or other difficult situations.
The most obvious connection to rome for paul was his roman citizenship. The consensus answer seems to be that paul was a roman citizen because he was born one. As to the disciple lukes knowledge of the letters contents, it may be that the letter itself was read at the time pauls case was heard. He learned from one of the best pharisees, pauls roman citizenship saved him a lot from different roman punishments. Pauls birth in a jewish family occurred in the city of tarsu s within the province of cilicia acts 22.