August 29, 2020, Proverbs 16, Acts cont....

  Acts cont..

Paul the Roman Citizen

The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, 

"Rid the earth of him"

He's not fit to live!

As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, the commander ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks. He directed that he be flogged and interrogated in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this.

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?" 

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.

The commander went to Paul and asked, "tell me, are you a Roman citizen? 

"Yes I am, he answered.

The the commander said, " I had to pay a lot of money for my citizenship."

"But I was born a citizen," Paul replied. 

Those who were about to interrogate him withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen in chains. 

A Roman Citizen

A person could become a Roman citizen by either birth or buying the privilege. Paul's birth in a Jewish family occurred in the city of Tarsus, Although a Jew, his birth in the city grants him roman citizenship.Citizenship in ancient Rome was a privileged political and legal status afforded to free individuals with respect to laws, property, and governance. 

Proverbs 16

To humans belong the plans of the heart, 

but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.

All a persons ways seem pure to them, 

but motives are weighted by the Lord.

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, 

and he will establish your plans.

The Lord works out everything to its proper end-

even the wicked for a day of disaster.

The Lord detests all the proud of heart, 

Be sure of this: they will not go unpunished.

Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; 

through the fear of the Lord evil is avoided. 

When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone's way, 

he causes their enemy to make peace with them. 

Better a little with righteousness

than much gain with injustice.

In their hearts humans plan their course, 

but the Lord establishes their steps.

The lips of a king speak as an oracle, 

and his mouth does not betray justice. 

Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord; 

all the weights in the bag are of his making. 

Kings detest wrong doing, 

for a throne is established though righteousness.

Kings take pleasure in honest lips;

they value the one who speaks what is right.

A King's wrath is a messenger of death, 

but the wise will appease it.

Have a great day!