Roman Citizenship in the Bible

2024-11-15

It can be inferred from the Scriptures that not everyone in the Roman Empire were considered Roman citizens. Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. Let us look at what we can infer about Roman citizens.

Philippi was an official Roman colony. “And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days” (Acts 16:12). While Paul and his company preached the Gospel there, they were accused of teaching things that Roman citizens were not permitted to learn. “And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans” (Acts 16:20-21). Whether this was true or not, the charge suggests that there were at least some customs that Romans were not permitted to observe.

While there, Paul and Silas were beaten without a trial. Since they were from out of town, the townsmen assumed they were not citizens. Being beaten without a trial was forbidden for Roman citizens and if it were done, it can be inferred that there were severe repercussions. “But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out. And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans” (Acts 16:37-38). And again, “To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him” (Acts 25:16).

Paul uses this citizenship to his advantage when arrested in Jerusalem. “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? When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman” (Acts 22:25-26). He was spared being scourged because of this citizenship.

There also seems to be a distinction between being born a citizen and paying to become a citizen. “Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea. And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born” (Acts 22:27-28). Whether a purchased citizenship was a true way to acquire citizenship cannot be discerned from the text. It does seem that being born a citizen was superior to purchasing citizenship.

We see again that the chief captain was afraid even for binding the apostle. “Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him” (Acts 22:29).

Claudius Lysias also doctored his story up when writing to the governor to show that he defended a Roman citizen, which would have made him look good. “This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman” (Acts 23:27).

Because of Paul’s Roman citizenship, it shows that the Jews and the rulers that favored them had to be very careful when dealing with him. They tried to ambush him when en route to his trial, but then he never faced a proper trial. Felix just left him in prison, knowing he had not any accusers with a story that could convict him. When Festus replaced Felix as governor, he would have had the apostle moved back to Jerusalem, which would have resulted in another possible ambush. It is here where Paul appealed to Caesar. It was the only way to move forward.