Let Them Come Themselves and Escort Us Out

 Meditations on The Acts of the Apostles

 March 22, 2021

Let Them Come Themselves and Escort Us Out

 After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and sisters and encouraged them. Then they left.

Acts 16:40

 Read: Acts 16:35-40       

 Philippi was in Macedonia, what we now think of as Greece. But it was a Roman Colony, and the elite people in Philippi were Roman citizens. That means they had legal rights and privileges. They had a responsibility to reproduce the Roman way of life in Macedonia, and Roman life was arranged vertically. Rome was preoccupied with the pursuit of status and recognition and power, all under the single word of honor. Everybody sought after honor. There was a social hierarchy, and everybody in Rome, and Philippi, knew where they were on the ladder. There were several categories for the upper echelon, and as you worked your way down the ladder you came to Roman citizens. To be a citizen meant you had certain rights, such as voting and owning property. Citizens were owed due process of law. Underneath the citizens were freedmen. These people had liberty, but they didn't have the rights of a citizen. Then there was one more category at the bottom of the ladder. Those were slaves.

The only thing missing in the Roman culture was humility. There was not a word for humility in their vernacular.

With this context in mind, consider this passage in Paul’s letter to the Philippians, which was written about ten or twelve years after the events in today’s reading, and while Paul was again in jail, this time in Rome.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (Philippians 2:3-4)

My Takeaway: I suspect Paul used his Roman citizenship only after he was being released as a way to make known to all in Philippi what had happened to him. Paul modeled humility for the people and his own experience gave him the right to urge the Philippians to, “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus . . .” (Philippians 2:5 ff) Tomorrow we will read about Paul in Thessalonica, but before I do, I am going to take the time to read Paul’s entire letter to the Philippians. Will you join me?

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2021 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.