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Paul used His citizenship to further the preaching of the gospel. How might you use your citizenship to God’s glory?

BibleGateway: Acts 22:17-29

ESV Text: Acts 22:17-29


KJV Text:

The section starts at about 2:16 and ends at about 4:8

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17 And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance; 18 And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me. 19 And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee: 20 And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him. 21 And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.

     22 And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live. 23 And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air, 24 The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him. 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? 26 When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman. 27 Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea. 28 And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born. 29 Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.(KJV)


Hymn: TLH 575:
Before the Lord We Bow

— Organ Audio

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1. Before the Lord we bow, 
The God who reigns above 
And rules the world below 
In boundless pow’r and love. 
Our thanks we bring, 
In joy and praise 
Our hearts we raise 
To heav’n’s high King. 

2. The nation Thou hast blest 
May well Thy love declare, 
From foes and fears at rest, 
Protected by Thy care. 
For this fair land, 
For this bright day, 
Our thanks we pay– 
Gifts of Thy hand. 

3. May ev’ry mountain height, 
Each vale and forest green, 
Shine in Thy Word’s pure light 
And its rich fruits be seen! 
May ev’ry tongue 
Be tuned to praise 
And join to raise 
A grateful song! 

4. Earth, hear thy Maker’s voice, 
Thy great Redeemer own; 
Believe, obey, rejoice, 
And worship Him alone. 
Cast down thy pride, 
Thy sin deplore, 
And bow before 
The Crucified. 

5. And when in power He comes, 
Oh, may our native land 
From all its rending tombs 
Send forth a glorious band, 
A countless throng, 
For aye to sing 
To heaven’s high King 
Salvation’s song!