Rare and Privileged

Acts 22:28 – Then the commander said, “I had to pay a lot of money for my citizenship.” “But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied.

To be a Roman citizen was an honour and a privilege and was not to be taken lightly. It was a sort-after distinction and often came at a price.

The word citizen reflected not a transition from bondage to freedom but from the position of an alien to that of a citizen. The commander himself, apparently, an alien by birth, had acquired the citizenship by paying a heavy price, probably a bribe, as was the practice in those days,

When Paul said he was a Roman citizen, the commander was indeed surprised and keen to know how he had obtained this valuable status. Paul confirms that not just he was a citizen but he was born a citizen. This could imply that Paul’s father or grandfather may have received the citizenship.

When we accept Christ as our Saviour, we are born into the family of God, because of the priceless shed blood of Jesus. We are moved from being slaves to sin to being free children of our Heavenly Father and become citizens of the heavenly Kingdom. Let us value that freedom to which all the children of God are born, which no sum of money, however large can purchase.

Paul was a rare and unique individual. He was not just an intelligent, devout Jew, but also a Roman citizen. God used this unique background to use Paul in a special way. So also, God can and wants to use your unique background in special ways for His Kingdom purposes. Are you willing?