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.

John 15:18-19 New King James Version (NKJV)

18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

1 John 3:13 New King James Version (NKJV)

13 Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you.

And it is going to get worse. I am fearful for lukewarm Christians- you will not make it. If you won’t stand for Jesus now, you will not stand when it gets hard and you are persecuted and afflicted. If you barely make it to church now, you will not make it when we are persecuted and afflicted.

I have seen the persecution that’s coming- boats sinking. We are a battleship church and you better be on board. Dave Wilkerson was asked,