The latter part of the Book of Acts depicts Paul about to be flogged for an obscure offense. The people hated his doctrine. They considered his preaching as hate speech because his was an exclusive message. Jesus and His story caused a riot to break out. The Roman guards decided to imprison Paul and scourge him over the matter, but right before they were to punish him, Paul declared his Roman citizenship. The revelation of itself made the guard nervous because the law dictated a trial for all Roman citizens. Thus the guard quickly went to his commander who in turn questioned Paul, Acts 22:27 “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” to which Paul replied, “Yes, I am.”
Historians think that Paul’s parents earned their citizenship when he was born. Paul probably never knew what it was like to be anything, but a citizen of Rome.
The next verse shines light on the condition of the commander who did not share Paul’s birthright privilege. Acts 22:28 And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom.
Think of it, the commander had to pay to be free. He wasn’t always a Roman citizen. It didn’t come natural, but rather there was a price, and a hefty one at that. He said, “with a great sum” which indicates that freedom in those days came with a cost. It was a moment of self-reflection for this Roman commander; he knew what it took to be free. He remembered the extraordinary effort that citizenship imposed upon his life. He said that it took a great price to obtain his freedom.
I submit that nothing has changed. Freedom costs. A nation that is free has a price attached to it. A people who are free stand on the shoulders of others who paid for their liberty. Likewise, to be free from sin came at the cost of the Cross of Calvary. Without the Cross we would all be bound by the ruler of this world. Like the Roman commander, no one was born free. David said that we all were born into sin. The apostle wrote that all have sinned and come short of God’s glory. In our day, Freedom is often used as a byword without understanding of its depth. Through the extraordinary effort of the death and suffering of Jesus Christ, we have been set free. True freedom is found in the Blood of Jesus. Real liberty is located in places where the Spirit resides. “For where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” We are free because of His sacrifice.
Pastor Jeffrey Harpole