“Then the commander came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” He said, “Yes.” The commander answered, “With a large sum I obtained this citizenship.” And Paul said, “But I was born a citizen.” Acts 22: 27-28 (NKJV)
As the Roman soldiers prepare to “examine” (scourge) Paul concerning the charges brought against him, he changes the actions and attitudes of his captors by claiming Roman citizenship. The resulting statement by Paul in his conversation with the commander, is in my opinion, one of many “parenthetical” messages in Scripture that can speak volumes to us if we are listening to the Spirit. By parenthetical I mean that the message is applicable in the broader context of the passage and it also stands alone as a much different statement. It is certainly relevant to Paul’s defense before his accusers and to his captors who are afraid to learn of his Roman citizenship.
If the words of Paul declaring to the commander that he was born a citizen are the heart of this inner message; the commander’s answer that he paid a large sum to become a citizen is the flesh and bones.
I love how the Holy Spirit inspired this surprise; whether or not Paul knew the veiled meaning of these few words is irrelevant.
We see here the difference between works righteousness and one who is born again. Paul’s would be tormentor seems to be proud of his purchase of Roman citizenship “with a large sum”, until he learns that Paul is a natural citizen and releases him.
How often have we seen those who attempt to trade their labor for a place in the kingdom? Flaunting the “price” of their hoped for position, they are ever astounded, and more than a little suspicious of those who are simply born again into God’s kingdom. What they do not know, is that citizenship in God’s kingdom is far more costly than their attempted good works righteousness, costing Christ His life and requiring complete surrender from its recipients.
To be born a natural Roman citizen might have seemed like a wonderful thing to the commander; how much more then was Paul’s being born again apart from works, by faith alone, through Christ alone? One received a personal goal by works (the monetary price), the other received an eternal promise through faith and was empowered to do great works for the kingdom.
