Unconscious Bias Impacts Justice - Acts 21-22

 Acts 21:27-33 (ESV Strong's)

Paul Arrested in the Temple

27 When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, 28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” 29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. 30 Then all the city was stirred up, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut. 31 And as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. 32 He at once took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 Then the tribune came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. He inquired who he was and what he had done.

Unconscious Bias Impacts Justice

Note the order here:

1. Assumption

2. Arrested

3. Bond

4. Inquire

This is not justice.   

Inquiry by flogging? Acts 22:24 (ESV Strong's)

the tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, saying that he should be examined by flogging, to find out why they were shouting against him like this.

What if the leader would have started here? 

Acts 22:29 (ESV Strong's)

So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him.

Starting with an assumption (a bias) will always lead to wrong process.  The “tribune” (the leader of the Roman military cohort) stated with the crowds assumption.   He saw a crowed stirred up against Paul and his bias kicked in.   He started with an assumption, which led to an arrest, which led to binding Paul in ropes and then he “inquired.”  The inquire was via beating.   That was the Roman way.   Yes, God would use this way to get Paul to Rome.  Yes, God would use this injustice to accomplish His greater plan for Paul.  But, the lesson here is that bias can lead to injustice.    The crowd (mob) had a bias.  The Tribune had a bias.  We ought to be careful of our unconscious bias and how it impacts are justice.