Posted: December 16th, 2022

Discuss what it meant to be a Roman citizen in Paul’s day

Write about half a page each, single spaced (10 points each). Mention any resources you draw from.

1. Discuss what it meant to be a Roman citizen in Paul’s day. How were citizens better off than the slave class?
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In the Roman Empire during the time of Paul (which is typically dated to the 1st century CE), being a Roman citizen was a significant privilege. Roman citizenship carried a number of legal and social benefits that were not afforded to non-citizens, including:

The right to vote in Roman elections and hold public office
The right to bring legal cases to court and appeal decisions
The right to own property and conduct business
Protection from arbitrary punishment or execution
The right to marry a citizen and have citizen children
In contrast, slaves were considered the property of their owners and had few legal rights. They could not own property, marry, or participate in the political process. Slaves were often treated poorly, and their owners had the legal right to physically discipline them.

While Roman citizenship did not necessarily guarantee a good life or social status, it did provide a certain level of protection and privilege that was not afforded to slaves or other non-citizens.

2. Summarize Saul’s conversion experience and how he describes himself in various New Testament texts. In what ways do you see this as a dramatic life change?

3. Who was Barnabas? List and detail his appearances in the Book of Acts. Describe his importance in Helping Paul to get acquainted with Christians.
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Barnabas was a Christian missionary and one of the early leaders of the church in the first century AD. He is mentioned several times in the New Testament, particularly in the Book of Acts.

According to the Book of Acts, Barnabas was a native of Cyprus and a Levite. He was one of the first converts to Christianity in Jerusalem, and he played a key role in the early spread of the gospel. He is first mentioned in Acts 4:36-37, where it is said that he sold a field that he owned and gave the money to the apostles to support the poor.

Barnabas is best known for his role in helping to introduce the apostle Paul to the Christian community in Jerusalem. According to Acts 9:26-27, after Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus, he went to Jerusalem to visit the disciples, but they were afraid of him because they did not believe he was a true convert. Barnabas, however, took Paul under his wing and presented him to the apostles, helping to establish his credibility and acceptability within the Christian community.

Throughout the Book of Acts, Barnabas is described as a loyal and generous supporter of the early Christian movement. He is mentioned as a member of the church council in Jerusalem (Acts 15:2), and he is described as a “good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith” (Acts 11:24).

In addition to his work in Jerusalem, Barnabas is also mentioned as a missionary. He is described as traveling to Antioch with Paul and helping to establish the Christian community there (Acts 11:25-26). Later, he and Paul are sent out on a missionary journey together, traveling through modern-day Turkey and Cyprus (Acts 13-14).

Barnabas played a crucial role in the early spread of Christianity and in helping to establish the apostle Paul as a key figure in the Christian community. His generosity and support for the Christian movement were essential in the early years of the church, and he is remembered as a faithful servant of God.

4. Discuss social, political, and religious factors that contributed to the rapid spread of Christianity during the first century.

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