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).
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Seven days see that there be no leavened bread found in your houses. For whosoever eateth leavened bread, that soul shall be rooted out from the multitude of Israel: whether he be a stranger or born in the land.
Ye shall have one manner of law among you: even for the stranger as well as for one of yourselves, for I am the LORD your God."
One ordinance shall serve both for you of the congregation, and also for the stranger. And it shall be an ordinance forever among your children after you, that the stranger and ye shall be like before the LORD.
And these six free cities shall be for the children of Israel and for the stranger and for him that dwelleth among you, that all they which kill any person unawares, may flee thither.
but doeth right unto the fatherless and widow and loveth the stranger, to give him food and raiment.
and the Levite shall come because he hath neither part nor inheritance with thee, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow which are within thy city, and shall eat and fill themselves: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the works of thine hand which thou doest.
and keep the feast of weeks unto the LORD thy God, that thou give a freewill offering of thine hand unto the LORD thy God according as the LORD thy God hath blessed thee.
And thou shalt rejoice in that thy feast; both thou and thy son, thy daughter, thy servant, thy maid, the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless and the widow that are in thy cities.
None that is gelded, or hath his privy members cut off, shall come into the congregation of the LORD. And he that is a whore's child shall not come in the congregation of the LORD; no, in the tenth generation he shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD. read more. The Ammonites and the Moabites shall not come into the congregation of the LORD; no, not in the tenth generation, no they shall never come in to the congregation of the LORD,
And he went, and clave to a citizen of that same country, which sent him to his field, to keep his swine.
But his citizens hated him, and sent messengers after him, saying, 'We will not have this man to reign over us.'
Then said Paul unto them, "They have beaten us, openly un-condemned, for all that we are Romans, and have cast us into prison: and now would they send us away privily? Nay not so, but let them come themselves and fetch us out."
But Paul said, "I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no vile city, I beseech thee suffer me to speak unto the people."
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?" When the centurion heard that, he went to the upper-captain, and told him saying, "What intendest thou to do? This man is a citizen of Rome."
And the high captain answered, "With a great sum obtained I this freedom." And Paul said, "I was freeborn."
If I have hurt them, or committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die. If none of these things are, whereof they accuse me, no man ought to deliver me to them. I appeal unto 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).
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Nevertheless, in this rejoice not, that the spirits are under your power: But rejoice because your names are written in heaven."
Nevertheless, in this rejoice not, that the spirits are under your power: But rejoice because your names are written in heaven."
Then said Paul unto them, "They have beaten us, openly un-condemned, for all that we are Romans, and have cast us into prison: and now would they send us away privily? Nay not so, but let them come themselves and fetch us out."
Then said Paul unto them, "They have beaten us, openly un-condemned, for all that we are Romans, and have cast us into prison: and now would they send us away privily? Nay not so, but let them come themselves and fetch us out."
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?"
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?" When the centurion heard that, he went to the upper-captain, and told him saying, "What intendest thou to do? This man is a citizen of Rome."
When the centurion heard that, he went to the upper-captain, and told him saying, "What intendest thou to do? This man is a citizen of Rome." Then the upper-captain came to him, and said, "Tell me, art thou a Roman?" He said, "Yea."
Then the upper-captain came to him, and said, "Tell me, art thou a Roman?" He said, "Yea." And the high captain answered, "With a great sum obtained I this freedom." And Paul said, "I was freeborn."
And the high captain answered, "With a great sum obtained I this freedom." And Paul said, "I was freeborn."
If I have hurt them, or committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die. If none of these things are, whereof they accuse me, no man ought to deliver me to them. I appeal unto Caesar."
If I have hurt them, or committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die. If none of these things are, whereof they accuse me, no man ought to deliver me to them. I appeal unto Caesar."
But Jerusalem, which is above, is free: which is the mother of us all.
But Jerusalem, which is above, is free: which is the mother of us all.
and hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly things through Christ Jesus.
and hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly things through Christ Jesus.
But our conversation is in heaven, from whence we look for a saviour, even the Lord Jesus Christ,
But our conversation is in heaven, from whence we look for a saviour, even the Lord Jesus Christ,
By faith he removed into the land that was promised him, as into a strange country, and dwelt in tabernacles: and so did Isaac, and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.
By faith he removed into the land that was promised him, as into a strange country, and dwelt in tabernacles: and so did Isaac, and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked for a city having a foundation, whose builder and maker is God.
For he looked for a city having a foundation, whose builder and maker is God.
And they all died in faith, and received not the promises: but saw them afar off, and believed them, and saluted them: and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
And they all died in faith, and received not the promises: but saw them afar off, and believed them, and saluted them: and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. They that say such things, declare that they seek a country.
They that say such things, declare that they seek a country. Also, if they had been mindful of that country, from whence they came out, they had leisure to have returned again.
Also, if they had been mindful of that country, from whence they came out, they had leisure to have returned again. But now they desire a better, that is to say a heavenly. Wherefore God is not ashamed of them, even to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
But now they desire a better, that is to say a heavenly. Wherefore God is not ashamed of them, even to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
But ye are come unto the mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the celestial Jerusalem: and to an innumerable sight of angels,
But ye are come unto the mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the celestial Jerusalem: and to an innumerable sight of angels,
And I, John, saw that holy city, new Jerusalem, come down from God out of heaven prepared as a bride garnished for her husband.
And I, John, saw that holy city, new Jerusalem, come down from God out of heaven prepared as a bride garnished for her husband.
And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and a high mountain, and he showed me the great city, holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and a high mountain, and he showed me the great city, holy Jerusalem, descending 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
Then said Paul unto them, "They have beaten us, openly un-condemned, for all that we are Romans, and have cast us into prison: and now would they send us away privily? Nay not so, but let them come themselves and fetch us out."
And the high captain answered, "With a great sum obtained I this freedom." And Paul said, "I was freeborn."
And the high captain answered, "With a great sum obtained I this freedom." And Paul said, "I was freeborn." Then straightway departed from him they which should have examined him. And the high captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman: because he had bound him.
If I have hurt them, or committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die. If none of these things are, whereof they accuse me, no man ought to deliver me to them. I appeal unto Caesar."