Acts 16:35-40 (ESV)

But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.” But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.” The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.

Once again, Paul declines to leave the prison. This time it’s about honor – not Paul’s honor, Christ’s honor. Paul knows that people see him as a representative of the Lord.

I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. – Ephesians 6:20b (ESV)

His arrest threatens to discredit Christianity and Christ. Rumors will fly. It is imperative that the record be set straight. So, when they offer to let Paul go, he said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.”

Paul does some clever lawyering here. Roman citizens can’t be punished without a trial; beating Paul and Silas was a crime. Paul has the power to get these guys into big trouble. He leverages this power to get the public exoneration he needs. The magistrates came and apologized to them. And they took them out.

Now everyone knows he’s not a troublemaker.

Every Christian is a representative of Christ – some more high profile than others. Paul knows that he’s in the spotlight, and everyone’s watching to see if he’s legit. Folks will seize on any excuse to not believe.

This still holds. Christian leaders can do a lot of harm. People look to them and judge the legitimacy of Christianity based on what they see. That’s why Paul wrote such strict rules for elders.

For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach.  – Titus 1:7a (ESV)

Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, – 1 Timothy 3:2 (ESV)

Every one of us should aspire to be worthy of the title of Christian. It’s impossible – none of us is that good – but it’s still the goal. Today, let’s work on increasing our awareness of this awesome responsibility and honor. Ask God to raise your consciousness. Pray that He will burden you with the sense of your role as an ambassador for the Lord.

Ask Him to take you up a level as you grow in your ability to model Christ.

The weekly study guides, which include discussion questions, are available for download here:

https://www.ailbe.org/resources/itemlist/category/91-deep-studies