ACC ~ Acts 22 v25 - 29

OVERVIEW:

Using the technique of the interrupted speech, Luke accomplishes two things. First, he once again establishes that Paul’s vocation to preach the gospel to the Gentiles comes from a direct commission from Jesus. Second, he presents Paul’s dignity as a freeborn citizen, superior in this regard to the tribune, Claudius Lysias, who had to pay for his citizenship rank—thus the name Claudius in recognition that he obtained his citizenship under the emperor of that name. Some commentators present a discussion of Roman citizenship, how it was obtained, why the notion of beating Paul would have been so grave an offense and the dignity that Paul has as a citizen rather than a foreign troublemaker. Augustine uses this event in order to explain the phrase in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew, “If someone should slap you on the right cheek, offer the other.” Whereas Theodoret sees here a valid claim intended to secure Paul his rights, Augustine finds Paul making a stark contrast between the relative evaluations of heavenly and earthly honors, which highlights how the Christian must be ready to subordinate the latter to the former. Augustine notes the irony that Paul’s detractors had despised the thing of most value to him, yet became most attentive to the thing that was of least value to him. Chrysostom draws his common distinction between ways human and divine to emphasize that God is at work in the former as well.

22:25 | Lawful to Scourge a Roman Citizen?

TWO SIDES TO THE FACE OF DIGNITY. AUGUSTINE: However, the face cannot be designated as the right face and the left, but high rank can be either according to God or according to this world. Hence, it is as though the face were divided into the right cheek and the left, in order to signify that, whenever his becoming a Christian becomes an occasion of contempt in the case of any follower of Christ, he should be much more ready to be despised in his own person if he holds any of the honors of this world. Just as in the case of the apostle himself, when in his person people were persecuting the Christian denomination; if he then remained silent regarding the dignity which he held in the world, he would not have turned the other cheek to those who were striking him on the right cheek. But by saying, “I am a Roman citizen,” he was not unprepared to have them despise in his person the thing that he deemed of least value, when in his person they had despised a name so precious and salutary. Did he thereby endure in any less degree the chains which it was not lawful to place on Roman citizens? Or did he blame anyone for this injustice? Even though some people spared him on account of the title of Roman citizen, he did not on that account fail to offer them something to strike, for he yearned to correct by his own patience the perversity of those whom he saw to be honoring in his person the left portion rather than the right. The one thing to be considered is the spirit of kindness and clemency with which he acted toward those from whom he was suffering the injuries. SERMON ON THE MOUNT 1.19.58.

THE WAYS IN WHICH PAUL IDENTIFIES HIMSELF AND WHY. THEODORET OF CYR: For the divine command made what seems shameful honorable. Thus the apostle called himself at one time a Pharisee and at another a Roman, not because he was afraid of death but because it was fair to do so in a fight. Likewise he appealed to Caesar upon learning of the Jews’ plot against him. He sent his sister’s son to the tribune to report the plots being hatched against him, not because he clung to this present life but in obedience to the divine law. For our Master certainly does not wish us to throw ourselves into obvious peril. This [Jesus] taught us not only with words but also through action, for more than once he avoided the murderous violence of the Jews. LETTER 3.

22:29 | These Examiners Withdrew

GOD WORKS THROUGH HUMAN WAYS. CHRYSOSTOM: He would have earned contempt had he been scourged. But as it is, [Paul] throws them into greater fear. If they had scourged him, they could have dismissed the matter or even killed him. But as it is, the result is not so. See how God permits many results to occur through human ways, both in the case of the apostles and with the rest of humankind. HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 48.