BIBLE STUDY LESSON 15

SERIES V --- JOURNEYS FOR YESHUA

CITIZEN OF ROME

PAUL GOES BEFORE THE COUNCIL

From Acts 22:23-23:11

The riot erupted again, with people shouting, throwing their cloaks, and tossing dust into the air. The commander rushed Paul into the fortress, where he planned to have him flogged with whips until he confessed whatever he had done to make the crowd react that way. As soon as they had tied him with thongs, Paul asked the captain standing nearby, [Is it legal to flog a Roman citizen without a fair trial?] The captain immediately reported this to the commander. [Do you realize what you are about to do?] the captain asked. [This man is a Roman citizen] The commander immediately came to see Paul. [Are you really a Roman citizen?] he asked. [Yes, I am,] Paul answered. [I bought my citizenship,] the commander said. [It cost a small fortune!] [But I was born a citizen,] said Paul. The soldiers with the whips let Paul go when they heard that he was a Roman citizen. The commander also was afraid, for he had illegally ordered a Roman citizen to be bound and whipped without a trial. On the following day the commander removed Paul’s chains and ordered the chief priests and the entire Jewish council to assemble, then brought Paul before them to discover what was wrong. Paul looked intently at the council members as he spoke. [Brothers, I have a completely clear conscience about the way I have lived for YHVH,] he began. The high priest Ananias immediately ordered the members nearby to strike Paul on the mouth. But Paul rebuked him. [Shame on you, you whitewashed wall!] Paul said. [YHVH will strike you, for here you are, trying to judge me by the Law while you break the Law.] Those near Paul were shocked. [Do you dare rebuke the high priest?] they asked. [I did not recognize that he is the high priest,] Paul responded. [The Scriptures tell us that we should never say evil things about our leaders.] Remembering that the council was made up of both Pharisees and Sadducees, he decided to divide them. [Brothers, I am a Pharisee, and a Pharisee’s son,] he cried out. [I am on trial here today because I believe in the hope and resurrection of the dead!] Immediately an argument broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the council was soon divided. The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection, or angels, or spirits, while the Pharisees believed in them all. Before long everyone in the council seemed to be shouting. Some of the scribes of the Pharisees jumped up and shouted, [There’s nothing wrong with this man! What if an angel or spirit has spoken to him?] The argument was getting out of hand with the council members becoming almost violent. The commander realized that Paul might be torn to pieces so he ordered his soldiers to take him by force from the council and return him to the fortress. Adonai came to Paul’s side that night with a special message. [Lift up your spirits, Paul,] Adonai said. [You have faithfully witnessed for Me in Jerusalem. You will also faithfully witness for Me in Rome.]

COMMENTARY

ROMAN CITIZENSHIP

Not every person born in Rome could call himself a Roman citizen. Citizenship was a special status granted only to some. It guaranteed privileges denied to all others. Paul’s Roman citizenship kept him from unfair punishment without trial. Only a Roman citizen had the right to wear a white toga. It was a sign of honour that distinguished him from slaves and foreigners. Anyone caught pretending to be a citizen was sentenced to death. Roman law gave citizens the right to vote and hold public office, but they enjoyed other privileges not spelled out by law. A Roman citizen received the best seat in the theatre or the first place in line. People who were not citizens were required to make way for him on the street. In the courtroom the citizen could not be punished without a trial or questioned under torture. In disputes between a foreigner and a citizen the judge often ruled in the Roman’s favour. If the citizen was accused of a crime deserving death, he had the right to appeal to Caesar. If he was found guilty, he was granted quick death by sword rather than the agony of crucifixion. But Roman citizenship included responsibilities as well as privileges. A citizen might be required to serve on a jury or testify in court. He was expected to pay taxes to Caesar and serve in the Roman army during wartime. There were two ways to become a Roman citizen. A citizen’s son inherited the status enjoyed by his father, as Paul did. Other Romans received their citizenship by naturalization. Caesar’s decree bestowed the honoured status. The emperor often granted citizenship as a reward for special service or at the request of friends. Professional soldiers received citizenship when they retired from the army, others bought its privileges with a bribe. A slave could also become a citizen if his master freed him and legally arranged for his citizenship. When a person became a Roman citizen, he began a new life. To go with his new life, he needed a new name. He chose the first name by which he wished to be known, and in gratitude to the man who arranged for his citizenship he adopted the last name of his sponsor.

Shabbat fellowship live on zoom at 12:30 pm California time let us know if you would like a link.

An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
#proverbs 18:15

A soft heart and a hearing ear are symptoms of spiritual strength. Knowledge and learning are exercises for your spirit.

A wise man doesn't wait for knowledge to come to him. He goes out and gets it. The wise man's ears are open and his mouth is shut except to obtain knowledge and advice.

The law is the entire word, not just part of it. This is a photo of page 8 of the original Aramaic new testament in plain English with psalms & proverbs 8th edition without notes 2007 by glenn david bausher used with permission.

When we talk about "spiritual maturity," we usually think about how God's people grow spiritually as they learn the Bible and apply its truths to their lives. That's a familiar concept when we apply it to individuals, but does it apply to communities as well?

https://thebarkingfox.com/2023..../07/22/outsourcing-g

 

thebarkingfox.com

Outsourcing Government - The Barking Fox

When we talk about “spiritual maturity,” we usually think about how God’s people grow spiritually as they learn the Bible and apply its truths to their lives. That’s a familiar concept when we apply it to individuals, but does

Its amazing how Yah heals our hurts! I was sad and discouraged when i went to bed last night after less than positive social media interactions and a meeting that reminded me theres not much else i can do for my almost 18 year old. I have PTSD from many years of trauma from 91-01. I relive those events every night, even though i pray to avoid them. If i manage to get to sleep without thinking of them, they often manifest as night terrors. I do have healing from much of it, but i cant repress the memories. Yah blessing me with a fifth child brought a lot of that healing, but i feel i have failed her also, so the guilt comes back. I know unless i forgive myself, the Father will not forgive me either. He has shown me that i am forgiven in many ways, but just when i think ive gotten past it, a trigger sets me off again. Believe me, i am much better than i was in 2009! Its been almost 14 years since the Spirit came in to me like a warm rush of wind. I fear He will not contend with me much longer since i cant straighten out. My conscience eats at me regularly. I am trying to look forward to having quiet time to bury myself in the Word much deeper than i have in a long time. But the empty nest coming also empties my heart. I must trust Yah to look after her as He has always done. I thank Him for mending fences overnight to give me encouragement today! I must focus on today and enjoy the time i have now. Its all i have. My recent heart attack made that reality smack me in the face. I have unfinished business to attend to. It will keep me quite occupied for some time. I thank everyone here for being an ear, encouraging me with your daily posts and sharing the joys and sorrows in your lives so i can remove the focus from myself and place it on mightier things. The love of Yah is wonderous, mysterious, and fearsome. I thank each of you for keeping me one foot in front of the other and helping me listen for the Voice of Yah when all i hear is the daily droning in my head of what ive done wrong and the fear that i can never make it right. Blessings to you all! Shalom!

"Yea, and why judge ye not of yourselves what is right?"

Lk 12