{"id":2064,"date":"2020-02-20T11:36:08","date_gmt":"2020-02-20T19:36:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/?p=2064"},"modified":"2020-02-20T11:36:08","modified_gmt":"2020-02-20T19:36:08","slug":"devotion-acts-2222-30-faithful-to-god-as-being-faithful-to-his-word-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/?p=2064","title":{"rendered":"Devotion Acts 22:22-30 Faithful To God As Being Faithful To His Word Part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

Acts 22:22-30<\/b>\u00a0–\u00a0The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, \u201cRid the earth of him!\u00a0He\u2019s not fit to live!\u201d\u00a0 23\u00a0As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks\u00a0and flinging dust into the air,<\/i><\/span>\u00a024\u00a0the commander ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks.\u00a0He directed\u00a0that he be flogged and interrogated in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this.<\/span>\u00a025\u00a0As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, \u201cIs it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn\u2019t even been found guilty?\u201d\u00a0 26\u00a0When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. \u201cWhat are you going to do?\u201d he asked. \u201cThis man is a Roman citizen.\u201d\u00a0 27\u00a0The commander went to Paul and asked, \u201cTell me, are you a Roman citizen?\u201d\u00a0 \u201cYes, I am,\u201d he answered.\u00a0 28\u00a0Then the commander said, \u201cI had to pay a lot of money for my citizenship.\u201d\u00a0 \u201cBut I was born a citizen,\u201d Paul replied.\u00a0 29\u00a0Those who were about to interrogate him\u00a0withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen,\u00a0in chains.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a030\u00a0The commander wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews.\u00a0So the next day he released him\u00a0and ordered the chief priests and all the members of the Sanhedrin\u00a0to assemble. Then he brought Paul and had him stand before them.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. \u201cWhat are you going to do?\u201d he asked. \u201cThis man is a Roman citizen.\u201d\u00a0\u00a027\u00a0The commander went to Paul and asked, \u201cTell me, are you a Roman citizen?\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u201cYes, I am,\u201d he answered.\u201d<\/i>\u00a0\u00a0The Lord blessed Paul\u2019s strategy.\u00a0\u00a0The Roman soldiers were alarmed and immediately went to their commander and reported the news.\u00a0\u00a0The commander immediately became concerned and went to ascertain for himself if Paul was a Roman citizen, to which Paul confirmed that he was.\u00a0\u00a0Something awe inspiring about this is the love God has for us and the ability of our omniscient God to beforehand work out all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28<\/b>).\u00a0\u00a0We see the providence of God (Psalm 103:19<\/strong>) as Paul did not purchase his citizenship as the commander had but was born a citizen.\u00a0\u00a0How Paul was born a citizen is not directly known (from scripture) but what we may surely know is that it was the Lord Himself who arranged it so.\u00a0\u00a0It is possible that Paul was born a citizen by being born in a Roman province (Tarsus), or that his father or grandfather were citizens as the result of military service for Rome.\u00a0\u00a0Yet either way, long before Paul was born, God knew then of the use of Roman citizenship to save Paul from beatings and death.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>How great is our God! Praise God who even before we are born is arranging blessings for our lives.\u00a0\u00a0This is just another part of the proof of how greatly God has always loved us!\u00a0\u00a0Indeed God is all-knowing, He is good, and He loves us!\u00a0\u00a0We are safe in His love!\u00a0\u00a0Praise God!<\/p>\n

\u201cThen the commander said, \u201cI had to pay a lot of money for my citizenship.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u201cBut I was born a citizen,\u201d Paul replied.<\/i>\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Buying Roman citizenship was, though legal, somewhat of a backdoor in.\u00a0\u00a0It of course was, to some, a dubious honor and considered a lower citizenship than being born a Roman citizen.\u00a0\u00a0So Paul\u2019s level of citizenship exceeded that of the commander\u2019s.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThose who were about to interrogate him\u00a0withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen,\u00a0in chains.<\/i>\u201d\u00a0\u00a0The commander, and even all the soldiers beneath him, were now in a very precarious situation.\u00a0\u00a0We can easily picture the soldiers shrinking away from Paul not wanting to be implicated in the mistreatment of this Roman citizenship.\u00a0\u00a0Roman citizens greatly valued their liberties and the violation of them was a serious act punishable by sentencing from a people who zealously guarded their liberties.\u00a0\u00a0Any who had a part in even the binding of Paul were in danger of possibly having to answer for their indiscretion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe commander wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews.\u00a0So the next day he released him\u00a0and ordered the chief priests and all the members of the Sanhedrin\u00a0to assemble. Then he brought Paul and had him stand before them.<\/i><\/span>\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Now the commander was going to go about the interrogation of Paul in a proper way.\u00a0\u00a0Paul was to face his accusers.\u00a0\u00a0So the commander unbound Paul from his illegal binding and called the chief priests and all the members of the Sanhedrin to come to testify against Paul.\u00a0\u00a0The commander wanted to hear the accusations, the evidence and to give Paul a chance to defend himself.\u00a0\u00a0The commander could have saved himself worry if he had been a good man who gave equal treatment to all, Roman citizen or not.\u00a0\u00a0Yet it should not be absolutely concluded that this rascal had changed his ways, but was, more likely, trying to make it right should he have to defend his actions.\u00a0\u00a0Perhaps he was hoping that Paul had broken a Roman law and then his binding might be justified.\u00a0\u00a0Nevertheless, Paul was brought out to confront his accusers who were, sadly, the very people he loved and would die for, if it would have meant their salvation.<\/p>\n

A common question is, if a Christian is wronged, should that Christian pursue their rights through legal recourse?\u00a0\u00a0In\u00a01 Corinthians 6:1-8<\/b>\u00a0Paul admonishes the Corinthian church against taking other Christians to court to settle a manner.\u00a0\u00a0He states that we who will reign with Jesus (2 Timothy 2:12<\/b>) should not be seeking the ungodly to settle our disputes.\u00a0\u00a0We should, as servants of the Lord Jesus, be able to settle our own disputes.\u00a0\u00a0He even states that it would better representing our fellowship with each other to suffer wrong than to go to a worldly court against each other.\u00a0\u00a0We know that the world administers the truth and justice as they know it and much too often that can be contrary to the truth of justice of God.<\/p>\n

However should a non-believer violate rights given to us by the government of our land, then it is our right to pursue those rights through the courts of the land, just as Paul here did.\u00a0\u00a0We can look to the reply of Jesus concerning paying taxes as He said \u201cSo give back to Caesar what is Caesar\u2019s, and to God what is God\u2019s.\u201d (Matthew 22:15-22<\/b>)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0If we love Him, God rules over all parts of our lives.\u00a0\u00a0Yet Jesus here clearly notes that we shall be aware that the government of our land has power and authority.\u00a0\u00a0Give to the government what belongs to them as long as it does not conflict with what the Word of God reveals to us.\u00a0\u00a0So the government has laws we must all abide in (that do not conflict with the Word) and also rights that we are all endowed with.\u00a0\u00a0If someone, be it a public entity or person, or a private entity or person, who is not Christian, violates our legal rights, then they are subject to correction by the very government that has given our rights to us.\u00a0\u00a0So, since these are rights are given to us by the government, then it is reasonable to pursue and guard those rights within the government that gives and protects them.\u00a0\u00a0So, against non-believers, it is okay, even proper, to seek government redress in a proper way.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0However, against each other, let us settle disputes among ourselves, or with elders, or by the whole church, but we ought not to take each other to a government, and public court.\u00a0\u00a0Let us rather, in love, prefer to suffer wrong so that the name of our beloved Jesus is not dragged through the mud.\u00a0\u00a0Don\u2019t we know that non-believers love to point and scoff at such behavior.\u00a0\u00a0No, God forbid, let\u2019s not drag each other into government court and so shame the name of Jesus.\u00a0\u00a0But if a matter cannot be settled with a non-believer, than, when necessary, pursue legal rights as the laws have prescribed.\u00a0\u00a0In all these things we submit our behavior before God.\u00a0\u00a0In all things, let us do things that honor and praise God (1 Corinthians 10:31<\/b>).\u00a0\u00a0Yes, may we always honor and praise our good God!\u00a0\u00a0Praise God!<\/p>\n

P<\/b><\/span>salm 150:6<\/b>\u00a0–\u00a0Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.\u00a0 Praise the Lord!<\/i><\/p>\n

Micah 7:7<\/b>\u00a0–\u00a0But as for me, I watch\u00a0in hope\u00a0for the\u00a0Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear\u00a0me.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

Micah 6:8<\/b>\u00a0–\u00a0He has shown You, O man, what\u00a0is\u00a0good; And what does the\u00a0Lord\u00a0require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God<\/i>.<\/p>\n

Numbers 6:24-26<\/b>\u00a0\u201cThe\u00a0Lord\u00a0bless you and keep you; 25\u00a0the\u00a0Lord\u00a0make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26\u00a0the\u00a0Lord\u00a0turn His face\u00a0toward you and give you peace.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Acts 22:22-30\u00a0–\u00a0The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, \u201cRid the earth of him!\u00a0He\u2019s not fit to live!\u201d\u00a0 23\u00a0As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks\u00a0and flinging dust into the air,\u00a024\u00a0the commander ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks.\u00a0He directed\u00a0that he be flogged and interrogated…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1192],"tags":[82,129,101,94,1874,17,10,2036],"class_list":["post-2064","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-devotion","tag-acts","tag-corinthians","tag-matthew","tag-micah","tag-numbers","tag-psalm","tag-romans","tag-timothy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2064","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2064"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2064\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2065,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2064\/revisions\/2065"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2064"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2064"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.Bob4God.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2064"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}