The following is a synthesis, with my own reflections, of some responses from a Christian anarchist perspective (what is that?) to the following question : Did the Apostle Paul immorally invoke and utilize the benefits of immoral State power (i.e. Roman citizenship) in order to preserve his life and continue his mission? In like manner, why can we not also benefit from immoral/evil power explicitly for the purpose of good ends? The question was posed and the responses were received on the AnarchoChristian Group and the Christian Anarchist Facebook Groups.
First, the relevant text from Acts 22 : 22 -- 29 (NRSV) :
then they shouted, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.” 23 And while they were shouting, throwing off their cloaks, and tossing dust into the air, 24 the tribune directed that he was to be brought into the barracks, and ordered him to be examined by flogging, to find out the reason for this outcry against him. 25 But when they had tied him up with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who is uncondemned?” 26 When the centurion heard that, he went to the tribune and said to him, “What are you about to do? This man is a Roman citizen.” 27 The tribune came and asked Paul, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.” 28 The tribune answered, “It cost me a large sum of money to get my citizenship.” Paul said, “But I was born a citizen.” 29 Immediately those who were about to examine him drew back from him; and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him.
The responses :
No ethical issue : The Apostle Paul was invoking protections afforded by the State against the State's own coercive powers, for the purpose of preserving his life and continuing his mission, each of which is inherently just (i.e. not an unjust benefit from the stolen loot and unjust power of the State) and is not only a purported aim of the State but also one of the most just actions that it can do (aside from divestiture, reparation and dissolution). Seen another way, it is just to prevent the State from acting violently or coercively on any life (even one's own). Another example : one can disagree with the institution of the police, but one can be thankful if a cop saved one's life.
Wisdom : It is wise, cunning (like serpents, not doves) and expedient -- wisdom is good and Biblical in and of itself. Play along and do what you must (whether it be expedient non-resistance OR non-violent disobedience), as the situation demands, in order to continue the mission.
Setting precedent and protecting others : In so doing, Paul set the precedent whereby the State could not so easily persecute other Christians, who were citizens.