Paul and Silas were preachers of the way of salvation. When traveling through a Roman place they “were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling.” (Acts 16:16) This girl followed Paul and Silas to the point that they became so troubled, Paul commanded the spirit to leave her and it did. This upset the owners of the slave girl because they could no longer profit form her fortune-telling. “They seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities….”These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.” (vs. 20,21) My Bible’s footnote says that Judaism had legal recognition, but Christianity did not.
In the following verses we find out that Paul and Silas were beaten, thrown into the maximum security cell in the jail and had iron clamped to their feet. Imagine yourself, doing what you believe is right, then being imprisoned because of it. What prayers or questions do you think you may send up to God at that point? How helpless and defeated do you think you would feel? Let’s take a look at how Paul and Silas felt. “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.” (vs. 25) Being locked up in prison didn’t even stop these men from doing what they felt called to do! Even shackled to irons they continued to praise their Lord and speak of the way of salvation!
I believe that God will work mightily on behalf of those who choose to believe Him for great things. These men had great faith and God honored their faith. “Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose.” (vs. 26) Even being freed these men stayed where they were. They saw an opportunity to give God the glory and to help lead one more man to salvation - the prison guard himself. “The jailer…rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then…asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (vs. 29, 30) This man just witnessed the power of an Almighty God and chose to run straight to the God he saw! Praise the Lord! “They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved…” (vs. 31) The jailer then took the men to his home where he washed their wounds. He and his family were then baptized. “The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God - he and his whole family.” (vs. 34)
Paul and Silas chose to honor their God and have full trust in following Him even to the point of imprisonment. They chose to praise God even being in chains. They chose to have great faith in a great God! Because of this, God worked mightily on their behalf, shaking the foundations of the earth to set them free! Because of this, not only one more man, but an entire family received salvation and was filled with the joy of the Lord!
May you be encouraged wherever you are in your life by being reminded that your Heavenly Father hears your cry. May your faith be increased, knowing that our great God will rescue His people. May your heart be steadfast as you go forward trusting the path the Lord has set before you. Know that God can take your circumstances and use them for good!
“Lord forgive me when my heart has grown weary in the face of trials. Allow me to keep my eyes fixed on you. May my faith be greater than my circumstances as I chose to trust in a God who is Able. Lord you never change. You are the same God to me that you were to Paul and Silas - the same God who shook the foundations of the earth! May I chose to continue to follow where you lead and do what you have called me to do, trusting that the Creator of all is on my side! Amen.”
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