Sketches from the Life of Paul (1883) — PDF Scan 227

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220 LIFE OF PAUL . could influence their reason or command their reverence. An outburstof rage interruptedhis speech,as allwith one voicecriedout, " Away with such a fellowfrom the earth; for it is not fit that he should live!" In their excitement theyflungofftheirgarments,as theyhad done yearsbeforeat themartyrdomof Stephen,and threw dust into the air with frantic violence . Thisfreshoutbreakthrew the Roman captain intogreatperplexity. He had not understood Paul's Hebrew address, and concluded from the generalexcitementthat his prisonermust be guiltyof some greatcrime. The loud demands of the peoplethat Paul be deliveredintotheir hands made the commander tremble . He ordered him to be immediately taken unto the barracks and examined by scourging, that he might be forcedto confesshisguilt. The body of the apostlewas stretchedout, like that of a common malefactor , to receive the lashes. There was no friend to stand by him . He was in a Roman barrack,surroundedonly by brutalsoldiers. But,ason a formeroccasion at Philippi, he now rescued himself from this degradation,and gained advantage for the gospel,by appealingtohisrightsasa Roman citizen. He quietlysaidtothecenturionwho had been appointedto superintendthisexamination, “Is itlawfulfor you to scourgea man that isa Roman , and uncondemned ?" The centurion immediatelywent and told the chiefcaptain, saying, "Take heedwhat thoudoest; forthis man is a Roman ." On hearing this,Lysias was alarmed for himself. A Roman might not be punishedbefore he had been legallycondemned,nor punishedin