Week 8, Day 3

Week 8, Day 3
February 23, 2022
Scripture: Acts 22
 
Paul uses his citizenship as a Roman to advance the kingdom.
 
I’ve enjoyed reading through the life of Paul these last several days. Yesterday we read of his arrest. Today we read his testimony. I love that Paul gets to tell the story of his faith to others. They don’t seem to want to hear it, but at least he gets to share of the powerful love of God at work in his life.
 
The angry Jewish mob wants him gone.
 
Paul appeals to his Roman citizenship, only after he got to share his story.
 
The timing of his reminder that he is a Roman citizen is suspicious. Why not tell the soldiers sooner of his citizenship and rights? He could have avoided a lot of trouble had he pulled rank right away.
 
He doesn’t.
 
Because he can use this to the advancement of the Good News. He can keep telling his story, from one audience to the next. He saw one more appeal to the Jews to turn to Jesus as he had. They don’t hear it, but he can go forward knowing he did all he could to tell them about Jesus and the Kingdom of God.
 
We are citizens of the world, and citizens of heaven. Today, let us use our freedoms and privileges of our worldly citizenship to tell others of the hope of our heavenly citizenship. 
 
God be with you.