Reference: Citizenship
Easton
the rights and privileges of a citizen in distinction from a foreigner (Lu 15:15; 19:14; Ac 21:39). Under the Mosaic law non-Israelites, with the exception of the Moabites and the Ammonites and others mentioned in De 23:1-3, were admitted to the general privileges of citizenship among the Jews (Ex 12:19; Le 24:22; Nu 15:15; 35:15; De 10:18; 14:29; 16:10,14).
The right of citizenship under the Roman government was granted by the emperor to individuals, and sometimes to provinces, as a favour or as a recompense for services rendered to the state, or for a sum of money (Ac 22:28). This "freedom" secured privileges equal to those enjoyed by natives of Rome. Among the most notable of these was the provision that a man could not be bound or imprisoned without a formal trial (Ac 22:25-26), or scourged (Ac 16:37). All Roman citizens had the right of appeal to Caesar (Ac 25:11).
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And he went and attached himself to one of the citizens of that country; and he sent him into his field to feed swine.
And his citizens hated him, and sent an embassy after him, saying, We wish not this man to reign over us.
But Paul said to him, They have beaten us publicly uncondemned, being Romans, and cast us into prison; and now do they privately cast us out? No, indeed: but let them come themselves and conduct us out.
And Paul said, I am a Jew, of Tarsus of Cilicia, a citizen of a not undistinguished city, I beg of you, permit me to speak to the people.
But when they extended him with cords, he said to the centurion standing by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man, a Roman, and uncondemned? And the centurion hearing this, went and told the chiliarch, saying, What are you about to do? for this man is a Roman.
And the chiliarch answered, I acquired this citizenship for a great price. But Paul said, I am indeed, and was also born [one].
If indeed I have done wrong or committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die; but if those things of which they accuse me are nothing, no man may give me up to them; I appeal to Caesar.
Fausets
Paul's Roman citizenship was of the lower kind, which though not entitling him to vote with the tribes and enjoy a magistracy, yet secured to him the protection of the laws of the empire, and the right of appeal from his own hostile countrymen to Caesar, as also exemption from scourging (Ac 16:37; 22:25-28; 25:11). He seems to have inherited it from his father. Hence, he naturally uses the image to express the believer's high privileges as a citizen of the heavenly Jerusalem.
Our citizenship (Greek, or rather our life as citizens; politeuma, not politeia) is in heaven, etc. (Php 3:20); an image especially appropriate at Philippi, it being a Roman colony and possessing Roman citizenship of which its people were proud. Moreover, it was there that Paul had compelled the magistrates publicly to recognize a Roman citizen's privileges. So believers, though absent from their heavenly city in body, still enjoy its civic privileges and protection; pilgrims on earth, citizens of heaven (Eph 2:6; Ga 4:26; Heb 11:9-10,13-16; 12:22; Re 21:2,10; Lu 10:20).
See Verses Found in Dictionary
but in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.
but in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.
But Paul said to him, They have beaten us publicly uncondemned, being Romans, and cast us into prison; and now do they privately cast us out? No, indeed: but let them come themselves and conduct us out.
But Paul said to him, They have beaten us publicly uncondemned, being Romans, and cast us into prison; and now do they privately cast us out? No, indeed: but let them come themselves and conduct us out.
But when they extended him with cords, he said to the centurion standing by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man, a Roman, and uncondemned?
But when they extended him with cords, he said to the centurion standing by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man, a Roman, and uncondemned? And the centurion hearing this, went and told the chiliarch, saying, What are you about to do? for this man is a Roman.
And the centurion hearing this, went and told the chiliarch, saying, What are you about to do? for this man is a Roman. And the chiliarch came to him and said, Tell me, are you a Roman? And he said, Yes.
And the chiliarch came to him and said, Tell me, are you a Roman? And he said, Yes. And the chiliarch answered, I acquired this citizenship for a great price. But Paul said, I am indeed, and was also born [one].
And the chiliarch answered, I acquired this citizenship for a great price. But Paul said, I am indeed, and was also born [one].
If indeed I have done wrong or committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die; but if those things of which they accuse me are nothing, no man may give me up to them; I appeal to Caesar.
If indeed I have done wrong or committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die; but if those things of which they accuse me are nothing, no man may give me up to them; I appeal to Caesar.
But the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us;
But the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us;
and raised us up and seated us together with Christ Jesus in the heavenly worlds,
and raised us up and seated us together with Christ Jesus in the heavenly worlds,
But our kingdom is in heaven, from which also we expect the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ,
But our kingdom is in heaven, from which also we expect the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ,
By faith he resided temporarily in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, co-heirs of the same promise;
By faith he resided temporarily in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, co-heirs of the same promise; for he looked for the city which has foundations [fixed abodes] whose designer and builder is God.
for he looked for the city which has foundations [fixed abodes] whose designer and builder is God.
All these died in faith not having received the promises, but having seen and saluted them from a distance, and having professed that they were foreigners and strangers on the earth.
All these died in faith not having received the promises, but having seen and saluted them from a distance, and having professed that they were foreigners and strangers on the earth. For those who say such things show that they seek a native country.
For those who say such things show that they seek a native country. And if they had remembered that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return;
And if they had remembered that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return; but now they seek a better, that is a heavenly [country]. Wherefore God is not ashamed of them to be called their God; for he has prepared for them a city.
but now they seek a better, that is a heavenly [country]. Wherefore God is not ashamed of them to be called their God; for he has prepared for them a city.
And I saw the holy city New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I saw the holy city New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And he bore me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the city, the holy Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,
And he bore me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the city, the holy Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,
Hastings
Smith
Citizenship.
The use of this term in Scripture has exclusive reference to the usages of the Roman empire. The privilege of Roman citizenship was originally acquired in various ways, as by purchase,
by military services, by favor or by manumission. The right once obtained descended to a man's children.
Among the privileges attached to citizenship we may note that a man could not be bound or imprisoned without a formal trial,
still less be scourged.
Cic. in Verr. v. 63,66. Another privilege attaching to citizenship was the appeal from a provincial tribunal to the emperor at Rome.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
But Paul said to him, They have beaten us publicly uncondemned, being Romans, and cast us into prison; and now do they privately cast us out? No, indeed: but let them come themselves and conduct us out.
And the chiliarch answered, I acquired this citizenship for a great price. But Paul said, I am indeed, and was also born [one].
And the chiliarch answered, I acquired this citizenship for a great price. But Paul said, I am indeed, and was also born [one]. Then those about to examine him immediately withdrew from him; and the chiliarch was afraid, knowing that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.
If indeed I have done wrong or committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die; but if those things of which they accuse me are nothing, no man may give me up to them; I appeal to Caesar.