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What is Citizenship?
        CIT'IZENSHIP
        The Jew had no earthly citizenship in the Roman sense; his commonwealth was a congregation of believers, governed by the Lord himself. But Roman citizenship is referred to in the N.T. This was the term for the privileges enjoyed by certain subjects of the Roman empire. The right was obtained by inheritance or by purchase, Acts 22:28, or by military service, by favor, or by manumission. Among the privileges of this position was, the possessor could not be imprisoned without trial. Acts 22:29, still less be scourged, Acts 16:37, or crucified. Since to inflict either of these was a great indignity and severely punished, the assertion that one was a Roman citizen was a deterrent. But Jews who escaped on this account were still liable to their own law. 2 Cor 11:24. The right of appeal unto Caesar was one of the privileges of Roman citizenship. Acts 25:11. Paul was a Roman citizen, and repeatedly availed himself of his privileges against the violence of the mob. The words "I am a Roman citizen" had a magic power all over the civilized world, and even among barbarians.


Bibliography Information
Schaff, Philip, Dr. "Biblical Definition for 'citizenship' in Schaffs Bible Dictionary".
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