22 They listened to him up to this statement , and then they raised their voices and said , " Away with such a fellow from the earth , for he should not be allowed to live !" 23 And as they were crying out and throwing off their cloaks and tossing dust into the air , 24 the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks , stating that he should be examined by scourging so that he might find out the reason why e they were shouting against him that way . 25 But when they stretched him out with thongs , Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, "Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman and uncondemned ?" 26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and told him, saying , "What are you about to do ? For this man is a Roman ." 27 The commander came and said to him, "Tell me, are you a Roman ?" And he said , "Yes ." 28 The commander answered , "I acquired this citizenship with a large sum of money ." And Paul said , "But I was actually born a citizen." 29 Therefore those who were about to examine him immediately let go of him; and the commander also was afraid when he found out that he was a Roman , and because he had put him in chains .
30 But on the next day , wishing to know for certain why he had been accused by the Jews , he released him and ordered the chief priests and all the Council to assemble , and brought Paul down and set him before them.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Acts 22:22-30
Commentary on Acts 22:22-30
(Read Acts 22:22-30)
The Jews listened to Paul's account of his conversion, but the mention of his being sent to the Gentiles, was so contrary to all their national prejudices, that they would hear no more. Their frantic conduct astonished the Roman officer, who supposed that Paul must have committed some great crime. Paul pleaded his privilege as a Roman citizen, by which he was exempted from all trials and punishments which might force him to confess himself guilty. The manner of his speaking plainly shows what holy security and serenity of mind he enjoyed. As Paul was a Jew, in low circumstances, the Roman officer questioned how he obtained so valuable a distinction; but the apostle told him he was free born. Let us value that freedom to which all the children of God are born; which no sum of money, however large, can purchase for those who remain unregenerate. This at once put a stop to his trouble. Thus many are kept from evil practices by the fear of man, who would not be held back from them by the fear of God. The apostle asks, simply, Is it lawful? He knew that the God whom he served would support him under all sufferings for his name's sake. But if it were not lawful, the apostle's religion directed him, if possible, to avoid it. He never shrunk from a cross which his Divine Master laid upon his onward road; and he never stept aside out of that road to take one up.