A Citizen's Rights

Acts 21:35-40 When Paul reached the steps, the violence of the mob was so great he had to be carried by the soldiers. 36 The crowd that followed kept shouting, “Away with him!” 37 As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?” “Do you speak Greek?” the commander replied. 38 “Aren’t you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the desert some time ago?” 39 Paul answered, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people.”
 
THE people were out of control. Their hateful shouts, “Away with him!” is translated, “Kill him. Kill him!” The soldiers had to carry Paul away to protect him. One can credit the Romans’ determination to protect their prisoner. It may have been safer for them to turn Paul over to the mob.
   Might some of the crowd have been the same people who shouted to Pilate, “Away with him!” (Luke 23:18)? They had succeeded then in their violence to kill the Prince of Peace. Now they wanted Jesus’ messenger dead. The hateful mob did not know there is no death when the Resurrection and the Life reigns.
   How sad it is to think of the many, many times God revealed himself in Jerusalem throughout the ages; and yet, his chosen people he had created to be his own could only shout, “Kill him!” One can attempt to kill the King of Glory, but he will still come in (Psalm 24).
   In God’s will and time the Lord Jesus submitted to death. But it was not time for Paul to die. Paul was accustomed to defending himself and standing before hateful people. He faithfully prepared to do so again.
   Paul surprised the commander. Yes, he could speak Greek. No, he was not a terrorist. Yes, he is a citizen of no ordinary city – of Rome. A Roman citizen had a right to defend himself. This was their law. Six more times in the remaining pages of Acts, Paul will defend himself as a Roman citizen. He used the tools God had given him to be a voice for the gospel God had granted to him.
   The crowd was zealous to kill Paul. God is even more zealous to bring his justice to earth: Isaiah 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
   When you are a citizen of God’s kingdom, be confident of your right to defend the truth. You serve a passionate God. Be passionate for him.