Acts 22:25

And as they bound him with thongs ,.... To a pillar, in order to be scourged, according to the Roman manner F4 Lipsius de Cruce, l. 2. c. 4. . Nor was the Jewish form of scourging much unlike, and perhaps might be now used, which was this; when they scourge anyone they bind both his hands to a pillar, here and there --and they do not strike him standing nor sitting, but inclining F5 Misna Maccot, c. 3. sect. 12,13. ; for the pillar to which he was bound was fixed in the ground, and so high as for a man to lean upon F6 Bartenora in ib. ; and some say it was two cubits, and others a cubit and a half high F7 Yom Tob in ib. : and the word here used signifies an extension, or distension; perhaps the stretching out of the arms to the pillar, and a bending forward of the whole body, which fitly expresses the stooping inclining posture of the person scourged, and was a very proper one for such a punishment: now as they were thus fastening him with thongs to the pillar, and putting him in this position,

Paul said unto the centurion that stood by ; to see the soldiers execute the orders received from the chief captain:

is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned ? Though the apostle puts this by way of question, yet he knew full well what the Roman laws were in such cases; he did not put this through ignorance, or for information, but to let them know who he was, and to put them in mind of these laws, and of their duty; for, according to the Porcian law, Roman citizens were not to be beaten F8 Cicero pro Rabirio Orat. 18. . Hence, says F9 In Verrem Orat. 10. Cicero,

"it is a heinous sin to bind a Roman citizen, it is wickedness to beat him, it is next to parricide to kill him, and what shall I say to crucify him?'

And, according to the Valerian law, it was not lawful for magistrates to condemn a Roman without hearing the cause, and pleading in it; and such condemned persons might appeal to the populace F11 Pompon. Laetus de Legibus, p. 157. .