Paul uses every legitimate ploy in his defense. To the Jews he spoke Hebrew (or Aramaic), to the Romans he spoke Greek. He claimed his Jewish background where appropriate and used his Roman citizenship when it was advantageous. A fact that frequently frustrated his adversaries.
What did it mean to be a Roman citizen?
Rome was the reigning power of the day. Being a citizen of the Roman empire carried certain rights, responsibilities, and status. A citizen paid Roman property taxes, and had the right to vote in Rome. In return a Roman citizen was guaranteed a fair trial and was protected against some forms of harsh punishment. For instance a Roman citizen could not be executed without a trial and couldn't be crucified except by order of the emperor. A citizen could even appeal to Caesar in order to be tried in Rome.
No comments:
Post a Comment