#819.2- Paul And Silas In Prison - (from Acts 16)

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Song # 819.2 from Our Gospel In Song Collection by Col Johnston. Once when Paul and Silas were going to a place of prayer, 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). The girl followed them for many days shouting “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved” (Acts 16:17-18). Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned round and said to the spirit “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her (Acts 16:18). The owners of the slave girl realized that their hope of making money was gone, so they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market place to face the authorities (Acts 16:19). They brought them before the magistrates and said “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar” (Acts 16:20). The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten (Acts 16:22). After being severely flogged they were thrown into prison and the jailer was ordered to put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks (Acts 16:23-24). About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God when suddenly there was a violent earthquake that shook the foundations of the prison, and at once all the prison doors flew open and everybody’s chains came loose (Acts 16:25-26). The jailer woke up and when he saw the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped (Acts 16:27). But Paul shouted “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” (Acts 16:28). The jailer asked Paul and Silas “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30). They replied “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:31). Then they spoke of the word of the Lord and the jailer washed their wounds and took them to his home for a meal where all his family were baptised (Acts 16:32-34). Next day the magistrates ordered their release, and were alarmed to learn that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens (Acts 16:35-39). Paul and Silas went to Lydia’s house where they met with the brothers to encourage them and then they left (for Thessalonica) (Acts 16:40).
Thought for today: the Lamb who died for us, is now our shepherd who leads us.
Thought for the future: your love for God can change the world, but don’t let the world change your love for God. Where will you spend your eternity?