Paul and Silas in Prison

The Christian Community Comes Alive
Seeds of New Growth

From Derbe to Philippi

Acts 16:16-24  The Message

^16-18 One day, on our way to the place of prayer, a slave girl ran into us. She was a psychic and, with her fortunetelling, made a lot of money for the people who owned her. She started following Paul around, calling everyone’s attention to us by yelling out, “These men are working for the Most High God. They’re laying out the road of salvation for you!” She did this for a number of days until Paul, finally fed up with her, turned and commanded the spirit that possessed her, “Out! In the name of Jesus Christ, get out of her!” And it was gone, just like that.

^19-22 When her owners saw that their lucrative little business was suddenly bankrupt, they went after Paul and Silas, roughed them up and dragged them into the market square. Then the police arrested them and pulled them into a court with the accusation, “These men are disturbing the peace—dangerous Jewish agitators subverting our Roman law and order.” By this time the crowd had turned into a restless mob out for blood.

^22-24 The judges went along with the mob, had Paul and Silas’s clothes ripped off and ordered a public beating. After beating them black-and-blue, they threw them into jail, telling the jailkeeper to put them under heavy guard so there would be no chance of escape. He did just that—threw them into the maximum security cell in the jail and clamped leg irons on them.

 

For Reflection 

There are many today that wish to use the Gospel for personal gain.  The save girl represented her owners in trying to attach her perversion of truth to the growing acceptance of the message of Paul and Silas.  Angered by the turning of the tables and uncovering her deception, her owners mounted a campaign to destroy the movement by bearing false witness against the duo.  By constructing an unreasonable consequence of their preaching, the owners played upon the fears of the populace which resulted in the beating and imprisonment of Paul and Silas.  

Those who seek selfish ends still use such strategies today to discredit those who advocate social justice, compassion and peace.

Pray

for those who sacrifice for the sake of the Kingdom of God.  Pray that the false prophets of self-determination are exposed for the destructive actions they advocate in the name of God.