Acts 16:22-26 – “ Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. 23And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. 24Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.”
There is something about people who are committed to God that keeps them persevering in the midst of the severest of trials. Paul and Silas were being mistreated because they had set a slave girl free by casting a demon out of her. Verse 23 says, “and when they had laid many stripes on them…” Another translation renders that phrase, “After they had been severely flogged…” These men of God were beaten mercilessly and then were chained in a dungeon. Yet through all of the pain and mental anguish they were praying and singing (v. 25). This is a most powerful lesson for all of us. No matter what is taking place in our lives we cannot lose our prayer or our song. These are our spiritual weapons and they also minister comfort to us when we are facing difficult situations. Not only for what it does for us, but also for those around us. Verse 26 says, “…all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.” Had Paul and Silas been inward focused this powerful event would not have happened. Every prisoner became a witness to the power of God, and the Philippian jailer and his entire household were converted!
Verse 40 says, “So they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.” Paul and Silas refused to wallow in self-pity. They immediately encouraged others as soon as they were released from prison. Beware of the trap to become self-absorbed when you are going through your own personal struggle and trial. Someone else can be ministered to by your strength and resolve. Someone else’s prison doors can be opened and someone else’s chains can be loosed because you decided to pray and sing. You can make a difference!