Still None Believed

Acts 22:23-24 As the Jews were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, 24 the commander ordered Paul to be taken into the barracks. He directed that he be flogged and questioned in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this.
 
PAUL’S pointed and logical defense of his obedience to the LORD God had fallen on deaf ears. Evil seemed to say: “What’s your choice, Paul. Do you want to be left to the mob to be beaten? Or do you want to go with the Romans, who will flog you?”
   In a manner similar to Jesus, Paul had become a target for the Jews and a disturbance for the Romans. No one stood up to say, “This is a man God has anointed for the salvation of all, first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” (from Romans 1:16). Violence was the means to “justice”.
   It was good Paul knew his rights: Verse 25 As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?”  26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. “What are you going to do?” he asked. “This man is a Roman citizen.”  27 The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes, I am,” he answered. 28 Then the commander said, “I had to pay a big price for my citizenship.” “But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied. 29 Those who were about to question him withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen, in chains.
   Paul’s Roman citizenship alarmed the Roman commander. He also should have been gravely concerned he threatened a citizen of God’s kingdom. The commander, too, had heard Paul’s testimony, but he paid no attention to God’s power. He was not like Cornelius, the Centurion who called Peter to come to his home to preach the gospel and baptize his family (Acts 10). He was not as the Roman who sought Jesus’ healing for his servant (Matthew 8) or the Roman soldier who had witnessed the earthquake and great darkness over the land at Jesus’ death to confess, “Surely this was the Son of God.” (Matthew 27:54)
   The evidence of God was available to all who heard Paul’s testimony. Still, no one believed: For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools. (Romans 1:21-22)
   Do you know God? Thank him that you do and celebrate your knowledge. Pray for those who do not know him.