Thoughts for the Day

Paul and Silas in Prison

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted in a loud voice, ‘Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.' The jailer called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them outside and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ They answered, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.’ They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay. He brought them up into the house and set food before them; and he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God.

When morning came, the magistrates sent the police, saying, ‘Let those men go.’ And the jailer reported the message to Paul, saying, ‘The magistrates sent word to let you go; therefore come out now and go in peace.’ But Paul replied, ‘They have beaten us in public, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and now are they going to discharge us in secret? Certainly not! Let them come and take us out themselves.’ The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens; so they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

You might like to re-read the passage from Acts 16 again, this time noting the involvement and the power of the Holy Spirit in the background, for there are some odd things to note. The shackles were released from all the prisoners; no-one is injured; the gates are wide open; there's no mention of guards except the jailer; and no prisoner has left the jail. Notice also the courage of the Apostles at the persecution they are facing.

Paul is on his Second Missionary Journey which will take him about 3 years. He and Silas have reached the Roman colony of Philippi where they fall foul of a slave owner by curing his slave girl who has a spirit of 'divination'. They are beaten and thrown into prison. Roman towns kept Roman laws, but they had got it wrong here, for Paul and Silas are not Jewish charlatans, they are actually Roman citizens and it's illegal to imprison them without a trial. Despite all this they choose to pray and sing hymns. Their unwavering faith and trust in God should act as a powerful example for anyone in distress, for God through His Holy Spirit is always with us.

This story gives us a pattern and it's worth looking back at our own life to see if it is true. When disaster or danger occurs - we desperately turn to God in prayer - God, through His Holy Spirit, intervenes in some way - we share what has happened with others - in turn their faith is strengthened, or initiated.

Lord Jesus Christ,
when our life feels grim,
help us to ask You for help.
Teach us to expect Your intervention.
Enable us to see that Your answer
may not be what we expect.
Encourage us to share the good news
of Your salvation with others,
and then continue praising You.
Amen.