Acts 22:28 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The tribune answered, "I bought this citizenship for a large sum." Paul said, "But I am a citizen by birth."

NIV: Then the commander said, "I had to pay a lot of money for my citizenship." "But I was born a citizen," Paul replied.

NASB: The commander answered, 'I acquired this citizenship for a large sum of money.' And Paul said, 'But I was actually born a citizen.'

CSB: The commander replied, "I bought this citizenship for a large amount of money." "But I was born a citizen," Paul said.

NLT: I am, too,' the commander muttered, 'and it cost me plenty!' Paul answered, 'But I am a citizen by birth!'

KJV: And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.

NKJV: The commander answered, “With a large sum I obtained this citizenship.” And Paul said, “But I was born a citizen.”

Hours before, the Roman tribune was probably quietly working, trusting the Jews on the temple mount were worshiping peacefully. That changed when he received word that a mob had formed and was trying to kill a man, practically under the windows of the barracks at the Antonia Fortress. The tribune's quest to figure out why this man—Paul—is so odious to the Jews has failed miserably. Now, he learns this Paul, whom he has had chained, tied up, and nearly flogged, is a Roman citizen.

The Roman government gave citizenship to people born in Roman colonies. This included Philippi and Paul's hometown of Tarsus. The honor encouraged good will and spread Roman culture, as well as rewarded particularly faithful cities. Roman citizens had the right to defense in a trial; the right to appeal a verdict; protection from being beaten, tortured, or scourged unless convicted of a crime; and protection from execution unless found guilty of treason. Paul used this right to squeeze an apology from the magistrates in Philippi who had beaten him and Silas (Acts 16:22–39). He uses it here to avoid a flogging. Later, he will use it to appeal to Caesar when it's evident the governor will not release him from unlawful custody (Acts 25:11).

The tribune is a Roman citizen, too, but he was not born to it. This fact helps date the event as paying for citizenship was common under the reign of Claudius (AD 41—54). The Roman might even have bribed administrators to sneak his name on a list of candidates, which was a common means of getting through the process.

Acts 22:23–30 describes how the Roman army tribune continues to seek understanding. A mob of Jews on the temple mount want Paul dead (Acts 21:27–40). The officer let Paul speak, hoping to uncover the cause, but Paul only managed to agitate the crowd more (Acts 22:1–22). Now, the tribune tries the traditional Roman way of uncovering the truth: flogging. Unfortunately, he missed the part where Paul is a Roman citizen. Even the chains on Paul's wrists are illegal. The next morning, the tribune will try one last tactic: the Sanhedrin. It doesn't end well (Acts 23:1–10).

In Acts 22, a young Roman military officer realizes he cannot control Jews who do not wish to be controlled. He has just rescued Paul from a crowd that largely doesn't know why they want to kill Paul. In hopes of gathering information, the tribune allows Paul to speak to the crowd. The crowd listens only briefly, then explodes again. The tribune tries flogging but is foiled by Paul's Roman citizenship. Finally, the tribune schedules a meeting with the Sanhedrin. It does not go well (Acts 23:1–10).

Paul came to Jerusalem to tell the church of his ministry's success with Gentiles. The leaders are more worried about a rumor that Paul no longer respects the Jewish law. Paul agrees to perform a very Jewish ritual, but in the process is falsely accused of bringing a Gentile into the temple. A mob assaults him, and the Roman tribune arrests him (Acts 21:17–36). The tribune tries to uncover the truth by letting Paul speak to the crowd, then almost flogging him (Acts 21:37—22). Next, he will bring Paul to the Sanhedrin, to no avail (Acts 23:1–10).

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.