This verb appears in Acts 22:25, when Paul asks the centurion if it is lawful to flog a Roman citizen uncondemned. The word derives from μάστιξ (whip/scourge) and describes the brutal practice of beating with rods or whips, often used in Roman interrogation. Paul's question invokes his legal protection as a Roman citizen, who could not be scourged without trial. This moment demonstrates Paul's strategic use of his citizenship to protect himself and establish legal precedent for the gospel's advance, showing that while Christians submit to authority, they also utilize legal rights wisely.