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 let himself to one of the people of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine.
But his citizens hated him, and sent an embassy after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.
But Paul said unto them, They have publicly beaten us, uncondemned, and Romans, and cast us into prison, and do they now turn us out privately? No verily, let them come themselves and fetch us out.
But Paul said, I am indeed a Jew, a man of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and I beg thou wouldest permit me to speak to the people.
And as they were binding him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, uncondemned? And the centurion hearing this, went and told the tribune, saying, Consider what thou art about to do; for this man is a Roman.
And the tribune replied, I obtained this freedom with a large sum of money. And Paul said, But I was free-born.
For if I am indeed doing them wrong, and have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be nothing in what these men accuse me of, no one can give me up to them.
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
However rejoice not in this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rather rejoice that your names are written in heaven.
However rejoice not in this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rather rejoice that your names are written in heaven.
But Paul said unto them, They have publicly beaten us, uncondemned, and Romans, and cast us into prison, and do they now turn us out privately? No verily, let them come themselves and fetch us out.
But Paul said unto them, They have publicly beaten us, uncondemned, and Romans, and cast us into prison, and do they now turn us out privately? No verily, let them come themselves and fetch us out.
And as they were binding him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, uncondemned?
And as they were binding him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, uncondemned? And the centurion hearing this, went and told the tribune, saying, Consider what thou art about to do; for this man is a Roman.
And the centurion hearing this, went and told the tribune, saying, Consider what thou art about to do; for this man is a Roman. Then the tribune came and said to him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? And he said, Yes.
Then the tribune came and said to him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? And he said, Yes. And the tribune replied, I obtained this freedom with a large sum of money. And Paul said, But I was free-born.
And the tribune replied, I obtained this freedom with a large sum of money. And Paul said, But I was free-born.
For if I am indeed doing them wrong, and have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be nothing in what these men accuse me of, no one can give me up to them.
For if I am indeed doing them wrong, and have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be nothing in what these men accuse me of, no one can give me up to them.
But the Jerusalem above is represented by the free-woman, which is the mother of us all.
But the Jerusalem above is represented by the free-woman, which is the mother of us all.
and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
from whence also we expect the Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ: who will change our vile body,
from whence also we expect the Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ: who will change our vile body,
By faith he sojourned in the land promised him, as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob the heirs with him of the same promise.
By faith he sojourned in the land promised him, as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob the heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose maker and founder is God.
For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose maker and founder is God.
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but seen them from afar, and been persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth.
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but seen them from afar, and been persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth. Now they that say such things shew plainly that they are seeking their own country:
Now they that say such things shew plainly that they are seeking their own country: and if they had been mindful of that from which they came, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
and if they had been mindful of that from which they came, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But they desire a better, that is, an heavenly one; wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He hath prepared for them a city.
But they desire a better, that is, an heavenly one; wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He hath prepared for them a city.
but ye are come to mount Sion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels,
but ye are come to mount Sion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels,
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, descending from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, descending from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And he carried me away in spirit to a great and high mountain, and he shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God:
And he carried me away in spirit to a great and high mountain, and he shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of 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 unto them, They have publicly beaten us, uncondemned, and Romans, and cast us into prison, and do they now turn us out privately? No verily, let them come themselves and fetch us out.
And the tribune replied, I obtained this freedom with a large sum of money. And Paul said, But I was free-born.
And the tribune replied, I obtained this freedom with a large sum of money. And Paul said, But I was free-born. Immediately therefore those who were going to put him to the question quitted him: and the tribune also was afraid, when he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.
For if I am indeed doing them wrong, and have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be nothing in what these men accuse me of, no one can give me up to them.