Acts 22:25-29
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.
Then the commander said, "I had to pay a big price for my citizenship."
"But I was born a citizen," Paul replied.
Those who were about to question him withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen, in chains.
In these verses, Paul revealed his Roman citizenship to a centurion who is about to flog him. In his time of need, he was confident that this information would give his enemy reason to pause. And he was right. His Roman citizenship saved him from being punished before he was put on trial. Paul was not only a Roman citizen, he was also a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven. Roman citizenship had it's advantages, but that's nothing compared to the blessings of being a part of God's kingdom.
We are also citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. When we feel like we are under attack, we should do exactly what Paul did: declare your citizenship and your enemy will withdraw.
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