But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul’s question isn't just about legality; it's a bold assertion of his dignity. He points out that being Roman citizen means he's "uncondemned" – not just free from scourging, but from any punishment until officially judged. This highlights how Roman citizenship protected fundamental rights, even in the face of immediate violence.
But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
As the soldiers prepare to whip Paul, he calls out to the centurion, asserting his rights as a Roman citizen. He knows that a Roman citizen cannot lawfully be bound and flogged, especially without a trial or conviction. This claim immediately halts the proceedings and prompts the centurion to investigate Paul's status, revealing a crucial legal protection.
Why would scourging a Roman citizen be such a big deal? It wasn't just about a little pain; it touched on the very honor and law of the Roman Empire.
Paul’s outcry wasn't just a plea for mercy; it was a powerful assertion of his rights as a Roman citizen. Roman law was very clear::
Unlawful Punishment
Paul knew these laws well. By invoking his citizenship, he wasn't just avoiding immediate pain; he was appealing to a legal system that, at least in principle, protected even the 'lowly' from injustice by those in power.
Paul could have pleaded his case earlier, but he waited. Why speak up only when the whips were ready?
Paul wasn't one to shy away from suffering for the Gospel. However, he was also wise and understood how to navigate the systems around him. Here's why his timing was so crucial:
The Art of the Plea
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Paul’s faith didn't mean he was foolish. He knew God would sustain him, but he also knew God had given him the wisdom to use his legal standing to protect himself and, by extension, to expose the wrongdoing of his accusers.
Understand the original words
hekatontarchēs · Greek Noun
A high-ranking Roman military officer typically in command of a century (roughly 80–100 soldiers). Centurions were known for their discipline and were key administrative figures in the Roman occupation.
Rhōmaios · Greek Noun/Adjective
A formal legal status granted by the Roman state, which provided significant protections, including exemption from degrading punishments like scourging without a trial, and the right to appeal to the emperor. Being a Roman citizen was a prestigious and highly guarded identity.
akatakritos · Greek Adjective
In a legal and judicial sense, this refers to a person who has not been found guilty by a proper legal proceeding. Roman law strictly forbade summary punishment of a citizen before a fair trial and conviction.
Paul's bold appeal to his Roman citizenship at the brink of torture highlights the preciousness of legal rights and the protection they offered, even in a tumultuous historical context.
c. AD 49
Paul's Arrest in Jerusalem
Paul is arrested in the Jerusalem temple by a Jewish mob and rescued by Roman soldiers, leading to his imprisonment and subsequent journey to Caesarea.
c. AD 50-59
Paul's Imprisonment
Paul spends time imprisoned in Caesarea and later in Rome, during which he writes several epistles. This period highlights his reliance on Roman law and citizenship.
c. AD 59— this verse
Paul's Riotous Reception in Jerusalem
Upon returning to Jerusalem, Paul is again attacked by a mob, leading to his arrest by the Roman tribune Claudius Lysias. The tribune orders Paul to be flogged to extract information.
c. AD 59
Paul Claims Roman Citizenship
As the soldiers prepare to whip him, Paul invokes his rights as a Roman citizen, demanding to know if it's lawful to flog a citizen without trial.
c. AD 59
Tribune's Fear and Paul's Release
Upon learning Paul is a Roman citizen, the tribune, Claudius Lysias, immediately stops the flogging and transfers Paul to Roman custody, fearing repercussions for violating Paul's rights.
c. AD 59
Paul Appears Before the Sanhedrin
The following day, the tribune brings Paul before the Jewish Sanhedrin, hoping to understand the charges against him, though this appearance ends in further conflict.
This passage shows Paul previously asserting his Roman citizenship when wrongly imprisoned and beaten, highlighting a consistent pattern of him using his rights to protect himself and the Gospel.
Exodus 22:18This Old Testament law against sorcery can be seen as a parallel to how Paul's accusers were acting with malicious intent, similar to how unlawful practices were condemned then.
Romans 13:1-7This passage discusses submission to governing authorities, yet Paul's appeal here shows that even God-ordained authorities have limits and must act justly, not arbitrarily.
1 Corinthians 9:15Paul discusses his rights as an apostle, and this incident demonstrates him strategically exercising one of those rights (citizenship) to ensure he could continue his ministry without unlawful hindrance.
ellicottActs 22:25: "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?"
(25) And as they bound him with thongs. —The words have sometimes been rendered, “they stretched him forward for the straps”— i.e., put him into the attitude which was required for the use of the scourge; and grammatically the words admit this sense. The Authorised version is, however, it is believed, right. The Greek word for “thon…
barnesActs 22:25: "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?"
Bound him with thongs - With cords, preparatory to scourging. Is it lawful ... - It was directly contrary to the Roman law to bind and scourge a Roman citizen. See the notes on Acts 16:36-37.
Paul’s question isn't just about legality; it's a bold assertion of his dignity. He points out that being Roman citizen means he's "uncondemned" – not just free from scourging, but from any punishment until officially judged. This highlights how Roman citizenship protected fundamental rights, even in the face of immediate violence.
As the soldiers prepare to whip Paul, he calls out to the centurion, asserting his rights as a Roman citizen. He knows that a Roman citizen cannot lawfully be bound and flogged, especially without a trial or conviction. This claim immediately halts the proceedings and prompts the centurion to investigate Paul's status, revealing a crucial legal protection.
As the soldiers prepare to whip Paul, he calls out to the centurion, asserting his rights as a Roman citizen. He knows that a Roman citizen cannot lawfully be bound and flogged, especially without a trial or conviction. This claim immediately halts the proceedings and prompts the centurion to investigate Paul's status, revealing a crucial legal protection.
"But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?”" — Paul’s question isn't just about legality; it's a bold assertion of his dignity. He points out that being Roman citizen means he's "uncondemned" – not just free from scourging, but from any punishmen…
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Last reviewed October 2026