The beloved physician Luke shared how Paul continued to give defense for himself before a hostile Jewish crowd in Hebrew, and after doing so, the multitude, “lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live. And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air, the chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him”, and in chapter twenty-two and verse twenty-five of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul asked, “is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman?” where we read:
And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?
The verse begins, “And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, ...” Luke began with the words, “and as they bound him with thongs” which means “and while and during the time the Roman soldiers stretched Paul out on a post or pillar and tied him with leather straps to receive the blows of the whipping”, “Paul said unto the centurion” or “Paul, whose name means small or little, uttered declared, proclaimed and asked the officer or captain over one hundred men” “that stood by” which means “who was standing close and nearby Paul” the following words. Luke shared how “Paul” began to speak to the “centurion” who was near him as the “Roman soldiers” were binding him to a post or pillar to be “scourged”, and he asked him the following question.
The verse goes on to say, “... Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?” Luke continued with the words, “is it lawful for you” which means “does it exist as right according to the Roman rule for you, Roman soldiers” “to scourge a man” or “to whip or flog a person whether male or female” “that is a Roman” which means “who exists as a resident or citizen of Rome”, “and uncondemned” or “and punished without being tried”? Luke shared how “Paul” asked the “Roman centurion” whether it was according to the law for a “Roman citizen” to be “beaten or flogged” without having a trial.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” appealed to the “Roman law” as the “Roman soldiers” were tying him with leather straps. “Paul” asked the “centurion” near him whether it was according to the “Roman law” that he should be “scourged”. The implied answer was “no”, and we shall see how this benefits “Paul” in our next verses. For now, let us realize God's intention was to offer salvation through His Son Jesus, and anyone who yields to Him will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God. Those who are wise employ the “law of man” only as it is necessary and will understand, the “salvation of mankind” is supersedes any temporal rule that attempts to intervene.
Next time Luke shares how the centurion tells the chief captain, “take heed what you do”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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