Some believers think that demanding a government support their civil rights is unspiritual. Paul didn’t think so. 

When Paul and Silas, who were Roman citizens, were arrested, beaten, and thrown into prison in Philippi, it was a violation of Roman law. It was an arrest without a trial before a Roman court. While Paul and Silas are being held in prison, an earthquake occurs and all the prison doors are opened. Assuming the prisoners had escaped the jailer drew his sword to kill himself. Instead, Paul cried out, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!” (Acts 16: 28).

As a result of what happened, the jailer asked, “What must we do to be saved?” (vs. 30). The jailer and his entire household were saved and immediately baptized. They prepared a meal for Paul and Silas and the jailer’s family “Rejoiced because they all believed in God” (vs. 34).

The next morning, the city officials sent a message to Paul and Silas, that they were free to go. Paul, a Roman citizen whose rights had been violated, replied, “They have publicly beaten us without a trial and put us in prison—and we are Roman citizens. So now they want us to leave secretly? Certainly not! Let them come themselves to release us!” (vs. 37). Paul held the Roman officials accountable for their misdeeds.

The incident at the jail was not an isolated experience. Later in Acts, Scripture tells us of a time when Paul was again arrested because of false accusations made by Jewish leaders. Paul told Festus the Roman official presiding over his arrest, “No one has a right to turn me over to these men to kill me. I appeal to Caesar!” (Acts 25: 11). 

There is nothing unspiritual about demanding a nation uphold the rights of the citizens under its care. In Paul’s case, as ours, requiring a nation and its government to maintain the basic tenets of its declared rights of freedom for its citizens is right and good. What Paul demanded of Rome to support his civil rights would be used by God to open new areas of ministry for Paul in the future. 

Paul’s demand that his rights be upheld and his appeal to Caesar would define the future avenue of his faith and ministry. Paul’s demand for his rights to be upheld would eventually lead him to Rome where he would stand before Caesar. 

Paul could live so boldly because it was not his civil rights that gave him freedom. It was because he was one with Christ in whatever circumstance of life came his way. Whenever Paul traveled or whenever he suffered an injustice, he lived as a free man in the Spirit. That freedom did not mute his voice when a government violated the laws it professed. He used the system against itself in a righteous way that not only exposed the weakness of the system but opened the door to new venues where he would preach the Gospel to the highest civil authorities of the land.