The Way
Midnight Hymns and a Shaken Prison
Songs at midnight
Story
In Philippi there was a slave girl who had a spirit that told fortunes. For many days she followed Paul and his companions, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God!” Paul was deeply troubled by these cries from the spirit. He turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her.” At once the spirit left her. Her owners, seeing their profits gone, dragged Paul and Silas before the officials.
The two were beaten many times and thrown into the inner prison. Their feet were fastened in wooden stocks. At midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly there was a great earthquake. All the prison doors flew open, and everyone's chains came loose. The jailer, thinking the prisoners had escaped, drew his sword to kill himself. But Paul shouted, “Don't harm yourself! We are all here!”
Trembling, the jailer fell down before them. Then he brought the two out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Paul and Silas said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” That same night the jailer washed their wounds, and he and his whole household were baptized. Joy filled that house, now that they had come to believe in God.
Walk this scene on the map →Words of the Lord and of Paul
Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.
Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
Don't harm yourself! We are all here!
The sayings are fresh renderings of the original meaning in today's language. Text: Acts 16:16–40
Background
The next day Paul made it known that he and Silas were Roman citizens who had been beaten in public without a trial. Beating a Roman citizen without a trial broke the law, so the officials were afraid and came in person to apologize.
Pause and Reflect
Even when my heart is breaking, can I still praise God?