Context No. 3143 of 4322 · Acts

Acts 16:25-30: in context

25But about 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 bonds were loosened. 27The jailer, being roused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, “Don’t harm yourself, for we are all here!” 29He called for lights, sprang in, fell down trembling before Paul and Silas, 30brought them out, and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

At midnight, beaten and locked in the inner prison, Paul and Silas are praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners are listening. Suddenly an earthquake shakes the foundations, the doors fly open, and everyone's chains come loose. The jailer, waking to see the doors open, draws his sword to kill himself, sure the prisoners have fled. But Paul cries out, do not harm yourself, we are all here. Trembling, the jailer falls down and asks, what must I do to be saved?

Two things shine. Beaten and chained at midnight, Paul and Silas sing; worship rising from a prison cell, with the other prisoners listening in. Suffering did not silence their praise; it gave it a stage. And when the earthquake sets them free, they do not run. Paul stays to save the despairing jailer's life, and then his soul. Their integrity in staying when they could have fled, and their mercy toward the very man who had jailed them, open the door to his salvation. Praise in suffering and mercy toward an enemy became the means of his rescue.

Can I praise God even in my midnight prison, and show mercy to those who have wronged me, trusting God to use both for his purposes?

Sources

Acts 16:25: "But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them."
Acts 16:28: "Don't harm yourself, for we are all here!"
Acts 16:30: "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"