Freedom

Freedom in the Topics

The law of Moses pointed out the cases in which the servants of the Hebrews were to receive their freedom (Ex 21:2–4, Ex 21:7, Ex 21:8; Lev 25:39–42, Lev 25:47–55; Deut 15:12–18). Under the Roman law the “freeman” (ingenuus) was one born free; the “freedman” (libertinus) was a manumitted slave, and had not equal rights with the freeman (Acts 22:28; comp. Acts 16:37–39; Acts 21:39; Acts 22:25; Acts 25:11, Acts 25:12).

From Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897), by Matthew George Easton.