“35 When daylight came, the chief magistrates sent the police to say, ‘Release those men!’

36 The jailer reported these words to Paul: ‘The magistrates have sent orders for you to be released. So come out now and go in peace.’

37 But Paul said to them, ‘They beat us in public without a trial, although we are Roman citizens, and threw us in jail. And now are they going to smuggle us out secretly? Certainly not! On the contrary, let them come themselves and escort us out!’

38 Then the police reported these words to the magistrates. They were afraid when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. 39 So they came and apologized to them, and escorting them out, they urged them to leave town. 40 After leaving the jail, they came to Lydia’s house where they saw and encouraged the brothers, and departed.”

Acts 16:35-40
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Sometimes, as Christians, we feel like it’s wrong to stand up for ourselves. We feel guilty if we engage in behavior that may not be construed as…humble. We remember that “…the meek shall inherit the earth” and so we try to be meek, quiet and unassuming. But the fact of the matter is that Jesus told us to be wise as serpents and gentle as doves. We are supposed to use our minds, do what is right, be creative, but unlike the world we do this in gentleness and in love. Paul & Silas were wronged, publicly wronged. And where someone might say to ‘turn the other cheek’ they would be taking that command further than Jesus intended. We are not supposed to seek out abuse or situations that bring us harm. We aren’t supposed to let those patterns of behavior continue.  We need to stand up for what it right. Paul and Silas were beaten and publicly humliated. If they just ‘took it’ and moved on, what would come for the Christians who get persecuted after them, maybe who aren’t Roman citizens? So it was important that they establish a precedent that would protect others, and keep them from the harm they experienced. At least now the authorities would think first before needlessly beating someone. 

We aren’t supposed to seek revenge. Paul and Silas did not. 

We aren’t supposed to act in anger. Paul and Silas did not.

We aren’t supposed to ridicule anyone. Paul and Silas did not.

We aren’t supposed to rebel against authorities who are acting in good faith. Paul and Silas did not. 

Instead, they stood up for themselves, they stated their rights and they demanded that they receive the proper treatment afforded to them by the law of the land. They stood up for themselves in a God honoring way, left a Christ-centred example and didn’t burn any bridges or leave any unsavory tastes in the mouths of the people. They just showed they weren’t pushovers, and that they understood authority and how it plays out. 

As we GoLove others in Jesus’ Name, we need to be mindful of the impression that we leave, whether we feel like we are being treated well or not. How we react makes a difference. How we act, proactively, makes a difference. In everything we do, we need to stand for what is right, even if the governing authorities are not. Insofar as they operate in a reasonable and just way, we comply, but where they stand against the Word of God, then we stand up for what is right in a way that honors God, and hopefully, makes a good impression for His sake and in His Name on those people whom we stand against. It is also important to remember that God is the One who sets things straight and who will see justice done. We stand for the truth, until that time, honoring Christ in our attitudes and actions.